JRA begins reinstatement work at Douglasdale intersection following Johannesburg Water repairs
City Power restores damaged street lighting cable as water utility attributes pipe bursts to high network pressure in Ward 106.
The Johannesburg Roads Agency (JRA) has begun reinstatement work at the corner of Westway and Darter roads in Douglasdale following concerns over repeated water repairs and damaged infrastructure.
Ward 106 councillor Chris Santana welcomed the progress during a site visit, noting that work on the current section was expected to take one to two days, though further repairs remained along the road.
Damaged infrastructure concerns
The site was excavated during a Johannesburg Water repair following a burst pipe. The work left sections of the pavement and stormwater infrastructure damaged, and also affected underground services.
Read more: Councillor calls out JW for rotten Sunninghill excavation
City Power public relations and communication general manager Isaac Mangena confirmed that a street lighting cable was damaged during the excavation. The utility isolated the cable to make the area safe and subsequently restored the affected street lighting.
Santana pointed to fibre cables left exposed at the site and said he would follow up on their restoration, noting that broken fibre links were visible across the area.
Johannesburg Water spokesperson Nombuso Shabalala said the Westway and Darter Road leaks were caused by high pressure within the network, while maintaining that the operating pressure in the area was approximately 4 bar and within the acceptable range.
JRA confirms site inspection
JRA confirmed that it had inspected the site after receiving a complaint and was waiting for a reinstatement order from Johannesburg Water before carrying out the necessary road and pavement repairs.
Also read: Open excavation a major concern for Fourways residents
Santana said the latest progress was encouraging but stressed that the work should be completed properly to avoid further excavation.
He expressed hope that backfilling would occur quickly to prevent pipes from falling in, citing a previous incident in Columbus Crescent.
While the reinstatement marks progress at Westway and Darter roads, Santana said the area still has several infrastructure problems requiring attention.
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