Residents of Fourways Gardens Estate will have to wait a little longer for the full rehabilitation of Chorisia Lane and Celtis Crescent, as officials seek to rule out the possibility of an underground water leak before the major reconstruction continues.

Ward 94 councillor David Foley said that while Johannesburg Roads Agency (JRA) has already completed significant work on the road, concerns remain that the underlying cause of the damage may not yet have been fully resolved.

Foley explained that the next phase of construction has been temporarily put on hold while further investigations are carried out.

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“As you can see, there has been a lot of work done by JRA, but for some reason, the road just does not want to dry fully, which is a concern.”

The rehabilitation plan was due to progress with the installation of different structural road layers. However, Foley said he requested that JRA postpone this stage until Johannesburg Water can conduct tests to determine whether an underground leak is still present.

“There are planned works to install the different layers, but we’ve asked JRA to hold back on that because if there’s a leak here, and it’s discovered during the process, then we’re going to have to start all over again.

“We’re busy talking to the Johannesburg Water team to see if they can come here and do some tests to make sure there’s no leak. Thereafter, the process will start to rehabilitate this road fully.”

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The latest development follows months of investigations into the unusual bulging and deterioration of the road surface.

Earlier this year, Foley said evidence pointed to a likely underground water leak, after reduced water activity was observed when the Bryanston reservoir was temporarily taken offline.

When the reservoir resumed operation, bubbling and signs of trapped water beneath the road surface reappeared, strengthening suspicions that a leaking pipe was contributing to the damage.

The planned rehabilitation forms part of a broader effort to provide a long-term solution for the road. In addition to rebuilding the affected section, the project includes measures to improve drainage and better manage groundwater to reduce the risk of future damage.

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While the delay may extend construction timelines, Foley said ensuring that any possible leak is identified and repaired before the road is rebuilt is essential to preventing further costly repairs in the future.

Residents are encouraged to remain patient while the additional investigations are completed, after which full rehabilitation of Chorisia Road is expected to continue.

JRA’s Bertha Peters-Scheepers said, when asked for comment on June 23, that the roads agency will establish the facts and provide a project update following the concerns raised by Foley.

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