WATCH: Not a ‘hole’ lot of progress seen on Rondebult Road
The road closure resulted in daily traffic madness in Comet and the surrounding alternative routes during rush hours.
February marks a year since the stretch of Rondebult Road in Comet (Boksburg) was closed because of the massive sinkhole that developed on the northbound hard shoulder of the road; yet authorities are still grappling to find solutions.
The metro is unclear about when the repair work will start.
Boksburg Advertiser recently asked the municipality for an update on its plan to rehabilitate this critical infrastructure.
Metro spokesperson Zweli Dlamini said the repair delay is due to a combination of factors.
“When we were ready to fix the first sinkhole, a second sinkhole opened up on the southbound hard shoulder of the road later last year, setting the repair work back.
“We are now in the process of mobilising resources, and as soon as funds permit, the work will get underway.
“Unfortunately, we can give no timeline for the start of construction at this stage,” explained Dlamini, adding that the city is in contact with stakeholders who might assist with repairs.
Dlamini also reiterated that this sinkhole was not a natural phenomenon but caused by illegal mining.
When Boksburg Advertiser revisited the area recently, we found that both sinkholes have gradually swallowed the road, trees and land in their paths.
The first hole has become a water-logged dam of some sort.
Traffic chaos
Since the closure of this stretch of Rondebult Road, traffic remains a nightmare for motorists on alternative routes, especially during peak hours.
On top of the delay in fixing the road, motorists have lamented the absence of pointsmen to help direct traffic, particularly during load-shedding.
Also Read: WATCH: Whose job is it to fix the Rondebult Road sinkhole?
