Seaview residents despair over road collapse

RESIDENTS of Seaview Road have voiced their concerns about the structural integrity of a section of road that has collapsed.

In the last three weeks and after heavy rains, a section of the road collapsed, affecting a stormwater pipe and resulting in the closure of the road.

The eThekwini Municipality has erected barricades and road closure signs to warn motorists.

Judy Bol, who lives close to the collapsed section, said she began noticing the road giving way on October 21.

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“It has just gotten worse over time to a point where the road totally collapsed, affecting one of the lanes. We are also concerned about a sinkhole a few metres away from the collapse worsening and resulting in more destruction. There is also great concern for my immediate neighbours who could be impacted by not being able to access their driveways.

“This closure also affects traffic to the school which is less than a kilometre from the collapse. I’ve also noticed a fault line that is getting worse. We have also raised concerns about heavy-duty vehicles accessing this road as these residential roads were not meant for trucks and trailers. The next heavy downpour could lead to a total collapse which would be disastrous for the area,” she said.

Ward 65 councillor Samantha Windvogel with Seaview Road resident Judy Bol surveyed the damage of the recent road collapse. Residents fear more rains could affect the structural integrity of the road and lead to a bigger collapse. Windvogel also pleaded with motorists not to remove barriers to drive through the closed-off section.

“I was informed that a taxi driver had removed the barriers and illegally accessed the closed road and other motorists had also disregarded the closure. This is extremely dangerous, and ignoring road closures puts lives at risk. I will also be requesting weight restriction signs to stop heavy-duty vehicles from accessing the narrow roads. In the meantime, I have liaised with the Roads and Stormwater Department who are working on a repair plan, including assessments and quotations,” she said.

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While no timeframe has been given for repairs to be carried out, residents are concerned about heavy downpours impacting the road’s surface even more.

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