The project to repair and reconstruct a stormwater attenuation chamber in Eastleigh Ridge has seemingly stalled once again.
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This comes after the City of Ekurhuleni informed Bedfordview and Edenvale News last year that they expected to complete the project by February.
On-site, no contractors could be found working.
The chamber, located along Aitken Road, collapsed in 2020.
While unrepaired, it contributes to flooding during the rainy season of houses located near the chamber.
The site was handed over to the contractor on September 8, which marked the start date of the contract.
The City of Ekurhuleni (CoE) spokesperson Zweli Dlamini previously said it was not clear why the chamber collapsed.
“It is suspected that it may have collapsed following adverse rainfall experienced in the area.
“This could have resulted in the chamber becoming full and displacing the concrete cover slab and compromising the structural integrity of the chamber.”
He said it is possible that the situation deteriorated over time.
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The project was meant to rebuild the collapsed chamber to divert stormwater flow collected at the park along Ferdinand Avenue and reconfigure existing connections at the manhole along Ferdinand Avenue.
The chamber would have been reinforced concrete instead of a brick chamber.
Ward 19 Clr Bill Rundle said the site has remained inactive for several months.
According to him, the site was abandoned, following a lack of payment from the municipality.
“The CoE has put the project out for new contractors but that was three months ago. Remember that whatever money has been spent here is gone.”
Rundle said the city needs to pay the new contractors to fix whatever needs to be rectified and complete the project.
At the site on Aitken Road, Rundle pointed out that one of the recently installed stormwater pipes meant to funnel water into the chamber already had a hole.
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Rundle said it feels as if officials have washed their hands off the project.
He said he has tried to get something done about it since the start of the year, requesting action.
“I was informed that it was the tender holding up the process.”
In last year’s response from CoE, the NEWS was told that the park located along Ferdinand Avenue and near the construction site was still operational and would be rehabilitated by the contractors.
However, during the NEWS’ April 19 visit the park was still overgrown, construction sites left open and mounds of soil piled high in the park.
A request was sent to CoE on April 20, requesting comment by April 21 at 14:30
At the time of going to print no comment was received.
