Pothole patchwork questioned
PRESIDENT PARK - President Park's roads, like many throughout the city, were affected by the heavy rains of the past two weeks and chairperson of President Park Residents Association, John Gainsford, raised concern on how they are being patched up.
He noticed that a pothole on Fouche Street in the suburb was filled just days before by the Johannesburg Roads Agency, but had lifted during the heavy rains. On inspection of the repair work of the pothole, Gainsford said, “One can clearly see the thickness of the tar used is barely the thickness of a pencil and that the pitch or bitchumen is barely sufficient to bind and seal the stone content used in the mix – yet alone bond to the surrounding old surface. One can see the same potholes in all of Joburg getting repeated ‘lick-n-stick’ treatment before rain lifts the substandard patchwork. Yet the Johannesburg Roads Agency continues to use the same old sad patching mythology. The roads agency is failing the city and its residents.”
Gainsford said he has observed the roads agency’s patching process and said no attention was given to the foundation before they patched the potholes; according to him, loose uncompacted tar and gravel tar was used, and doesn’t make a good base for the pothole.
Spokesperson for the Johannesburg Roads Agency Bertha Peters-Scheepers responded that President Park’s roads were initially constructed for the purposes of servicing the agricultural holdings only.
“With the mentioned roads being constructed below the acceptable construction standards, even pothole repairs under the approved repair method are not expected to remain intact for an extended period of time, if subjected to increased traffic and wet conditions,” she said.
“The in situ material was ripped, reshaped and re-compacted with a dust pallet overlay, thereafter a 20 to 30mm asphalt surfacing was applied. Over the years, residential densities increased due to the change in the land use zoning and have subsequently resulted in substantial increased traffic volumes. The design of these roads in those years was never meant to handle the current traffic volumes, as well as frequent ‘rat-running that traverses through this suburb.”
She also said no formal storm water systems were ever constructed on the roads and as traffic volumes increased, the roads are subjected to “extreme distress”.
She said the roads agency endeavoured to mend potholes within the three days after they are logged to minimise risks to road users, but it was a challenge during wet conditions.
