Vadi announces Witkoppen Road upgrade

Vadi said although the bridge had collapsed in July last year, the delay in rebuilding it was due to supply chain protocol. The existing culvert or drain on Witkoppen Road was extensively damaged about a year ago due to excessive water flows into the road drainage system. Consequently, the single lane across the damaged portion of the road posed a hazard to users, and led to extensive traffic congestion and frustration among motorists.

A contractor to fix the bridge, Phagama Civil and Maintenance, was appointed this year and started on site on 4 April. According to project managers, Thabisa Fekade and Dickson Mokoena the work on the bridge will take four months to complete.

Vadi also announced that a further 3km stretch of Witkoppen Road, from Main Road towards Rivonia Road was to be rehabilitated. This would involve the upgrading of the road, the reconstructing of existing culverts, the construction of pavement layers, the erection of new road signs and landscaping. The project should be completed by December this year.

Vadi mentioned that local labour would be used and smaller local sub-contractors would be brought in during the project. “The whole road network of William Nicol Drive, Witkoppen Road and Cedar Road is on the provincial roads department’s radar,” he said.

“Any construction site is a bit of a mess, but you bear with it because you know the end product will benefit you. We ask motorists to please be patient during this upgrade.”