With the formation of a sinkhole near the top of Van Riebeeck Avenue, the condition of Edenvale’s roads has again been thrust into the spotlight.
Shadow MMC for Roads, Stormwater and Transport, Ward 19 Clr Bill Rundle, said the sinkhole formed five months ago.
Located near the Van Riebeeck Avenue and Andries Pretorius merger, the sinkhole lies in the Van Riebeeck Avenue southbound lane.
Rundle said the sinkhole initially started as a pothole.
“In 2013, I started asking the municipality to do repairs on site,” explained Rundle.
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When they repaired the pothole, Rundle said there was no site excavation to determine its cause. He said they only used tar to repair the pothole.
“I believe the pothole, which has become a sinkhole now, was created by soil erosion underneath the road’s surface.”
Rundle believes a stormwater pipe or water infrastructure burst or collapsed, eroding the soil.
After the sinkhole formed at the start of the year, Rundle said a yellow plastic barrier was placed over the hole.
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He said at one stage, there were cones at the site. However, they were since removed.
“I am so frustrated with the situation. When I seek help from Edenvale’s roads depot, I am told the same story repetitively – there is no budget or resources to tend to the matter,” said Rundle.
With the sinkhole on a main arterial route, Rundle highlighted concerns about vehicles, especially trucks, driving over it and motorists risking their lives.
He believes if a heavy enough truck were to go over the damaged road, the sinkhole could deteriorate under its weight and grow in size. He said if this doesn’t happen, a vehicle, if driven into the hole, could cause a severe collision on the thoroughfare.
Highlighting the deteriorating condition of Edenvale’s roads, Rundle took Bedfordview and Edenvale News to Sixth Avenue to show the deterioration of a previously reported pothole.
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Since the News reported on it in February, the pothole near 90 Sixth Avenue has grown and deteriorated further.
Rundle said the site is not isolated, with Sixth Avenue littered with potholes.
“The situation is the same on Sixth Avenue and some other avenues.”
Pointing out the lack of stormwater maintenance, Rundle took the News to the intersection of Second Street and Fifth Avenue.
According to Rundle, during the May 14 midday downpour, Second Street turned into a pond.
At the intersection are four stormwater drains, of which he believes only two are functional.
Rundle said the water dammed up on Second Street the same day.
“I was further down Second Street when I saw a massive cloud of water spray in the air as cars drove through the water. A scooter driving ahead of me was covered by the water and had an accident.”
Rundle believes the scooter driver drove into a manhole covered by water, causing the scooter to flip.
“From what I could see, the scooter driver broke his leg. However, a community member took them to a nearby hospital.”
Attempts to locate the driver have been unsuccessful so far.
Looking at the site, Rundle said that just like those around Second Street and Fifth Avenue, many stormwater drains are not maintained and are overgrown, resulting in the water being unable to flow into the stormwater system.
“For 10 years, I have fought to get the roads depot to repair our roads and maintain stormwater drains, but I can’t even get a schedule on the work they were meant to do.
“I constantly get told there are no cars, vehicles or paints and a lack of the necessary resources. If that’s the case, what do the depot staff do all day?” asked Rundle.
We sent a request for comment on May 16, requesting comment by noon on May 17.
At the time of going to print, we had received no comment.
