Edenvale potholes, water leaks and road damage spark community petition

In an effort to get Edenvale’s roads and infrastructure repaired, NPO Better Edenvale has launched a petition.

The NPO has called on the City of Ekurhuleni to urgently fix the dangerous potholes, water leaks and damaged roads in Edenvale.

It requests that the city repair damaged infrastructure across the town, but specifically undertake repairs on:

•The major water leak and potholes on Tenth Street, in particular the huge, deep pothole and water leak at the corner of Tenth Street and Fourth Avenue.

•The unsafe hole that has been left open by the municipality on the side of Van Riebeeck Avenue near the Second Street intersection for months.

The NPO stated that when the city repairs underground infrastructure, the municipality is obligated to fully repair the road surface without delay to prevent endangering road users.

ALSO READ: Better Edenvale launches spring projects to beautify Edenvale CBD and streets

Although the site was recently filled by the city, it is yet to be fully rehabilitated.

•The potholes and increasing road deterioration on Fifth Avenue, most importantly, the severely damaged road surface on the corner of Fifth Avenue and De Wet Street, where a deep trench and piles of loose material pose a grave threat to public safety.

The NPO highlighted that residents, pedestrians, cyclists, schoolchildren, motorists and elderly community members are being placed at daily risk.

It stated that the potholes and deteriorating road surfaces are damaging vehicles, creating traffic hazards, making roads impassable and increasing the risk of accidents.

It highlighted that the Edenvale community deserves safe, functional and properly maintained infrastructure.

Speaking to The NEWS at one of the unrehabilitated sites, Better Edenvale director Mark Verhoogt stated that with so many potholes in Edenvale, the organisation is struggling to keep up with repairs.

ALSO READ: Better Edenvale calls on residents to help clean up Denver Park

All costs for repairs and work the NPO performs are funded by donations from community members and businesses.

“When visitors and motorists see the number of potholes in Edenvale, they don’t feel confident coming to our town,” said Verhoogt.

“They are worried about damaging their vehicles, and when it rains, the potholes are worse.”

Verhoogt said the NPO, which operates with a six-man team, should ideally focus on auxiliary work in town, not on the essentials, which the municipality should be doing.

Despite this, he said Better Edenvale is hoping to grow its team and obtain a larger vehicle.

“In order to do this, we need more donations and regular support from the community and businesses,” said Verhoogt.

ALSO READ: Better Edenvale launches to revitalise town and CBD

Sign the petition at https://www.petitions.com/fix_edenvales_roads_now?utm_source=web_share
To find out more about Better Edenvale and the work it does, visit https://betteredenvale.org.za/
A request for comment was sent to the COE on May 22 requesting comment by May 25 at 10:00
At the time of going to print, no comment had been received.