Two accidents occurred at the same spot on Koedoe Avenue in Birchleigh over the weekend as a result of rubble left by municipal workers.
Both accidents occurred outside Kaylea Krause’s house at the rubble that was left by municipal workers.
“I reported a hole that was developing outside my house in September last year but nothing was done until early February when workers dug up the road,” said Kaylea Krause, in front of whose house the accidents occurred.
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“They came for two days and never returned, leaving the piled-up rubble and two yellow barriers. The area is dark with the nearest working street light a few houses away.”
Krause said on Friday a motorist hit one of the barriers and landed on the rubble.
“Luckily the driver was not badly injured and had just a few scratches and bruises but the car was badly damaged. Two tow trucks were used to remove the vehicle from the rubble,” said Krause.
“On Saturday night, a motorcyclist, who had just completed his last delivery for the night, hit the rubble and went flying. He landed a few metres away from his wrecked motorcycle. He had a big wound on his leg, injured his left arm and shoulder and hit his head on the tar.”
According to Krause, the motorcyclist needed stitches and X-rays but refused to go to hospital.
These accidents join the list of two others in October and January respectively, seemingly due to the weakening infrastructure of Koedoe Avenue and Kwagga Street.
“A water leak on the corner of Koedoe Avenue and Kwagga Street was reported in September but nothing was done,” said Krause.
It got so big that a delivery van fell into it in October. The municipality only put up two yellow barriers and the hole continued to grow.
Upon inspection, Krause realised a big part of the tar road surface was ‘hanging in the air’.
“It is hollow underneath the road surface from the pavement to halfway of each lane. That is what we are driving on every day.”
“With all the recent rain I am afraid the road might collapse. I drive towards the centre of the road just to ensure I am driving on solid ground.”
During a recent storm, a tree fell and blocked the road. Residents had to hire a private tree feller to remove the tree, as the metro did nothing.
“While they were removing the tree, their truck’s back wheels sank into the road,” said Krause.
“The tree fellers placed pieces of the tree’s trunk, with reflective tape, in the holes to warn motorists. And again, we reported the matter but to date it still hasn’t been fixed. The metro needs to act before someone dies.”
Krause showed Express the numerous reference numbers received by different residents when reporting the problems to the metro’s call taking centre. Among those concerned about the infrastructure is ward councillor Gideon van Zyl who said he had also reported the issues.
Van Zyl said the roads department recently replied to him and said they had noted the concerns and wanted to get the underground structure correct before they continued.
Municipal workers were also seen fixing a drainage system near one of the houses on Koedoe Avenue. The problem is they filled the excavation with sand only.
The sand looks like a poorly constructed speed hump.
Express contacted the metro regarding the matter but hadn’t received comment at the time of going to print.
