Glen Austin residents and Gara urges JRA and Rand Water to repair dilapidating roads
Since a Rand Water pipeline installation, Milner and Hampton roads are at different levels in most places, causing flooding and other inconveniences to residents.
Glen Austin Resident Association (Gara) has been complaining about the state of roads in the area for several years – mainly potholes, problems caused by lack of maintenance, and the upkeep of stormwater systems.
The latter is filled with silt, and Hampton and Milner roads are collapsing allegedly caused by a Rand Water pipeline that was installed.
Belvedere Road has numerous potholes, and there is a sinkhole on the corner of George and Hampton roads.
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Gara committee member Judy Bird said the community had been experiencing sinkholes along Hampton Road, a few months after the pipeline installation was completed in 2020.
“But these sinkholes were further up Hampton, between Douglas and Dale roads. This particular sinkhole has been on the corner of Hampton and George since roughly early February of this year,” Bird said.
“Since the pipeline installation, the road levels have been affected. Milner and Hampton are at different levels in most places, causing flooding and other inconveniences to residents. The edges of many of Glen Austin roads are becoming extremely dangerous with cavernous channels carved out by the rainwater during torrential downpours, and roads are becoming wider as people drive on the verges to avoid potholes, corrugations and craters created by stormwater.”
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Resident Mike Wiggill emphasised that the deteriorating roads posed risks to motorists and pedestrians.
“Early February, during the rain, Hampton Road began cracking even more creating a sinkhole, at least that was when I noticed,” he said. “JRA had visited the corner on February 22 but only barricaded the worst area without addressing the entire road’s damage. Travelling through George Road at that corner feels like hitting a speed bump, the road rises and drops unexpectedly.”
JRA’s HOD for regional operations Khayalethu Gqibitole said the agency was aware of these potholes and the barrier tape around the sinking road on the corner of Hampton and George roads.
“The JRA standby team took immediate action to barricade the sinkhole last Saturday [February 22] to mitigate any safety risks to road users,” Gqibitole added.
“Upon investigation, it has become apparent that the underlying cause of the sinkhole [on Hampton and George] is linked to the construction of a water pipeline that runs beneath the affected roadway. Our inspection indicates that there was inadequate compaction of the layer works during the installation of the pipeline.
“This substandard compaction has likely contributed to the structural instability of the road surface, resulting in localised failure and the formation of the sinkhole. JRA is in contact with Rand Water to ensure the sinkhole is repaired as a matter of urgency.”
He added pothole repairs in the area were scheduled to begin on March 3, weather permitting, and JRA would update on the sinkhole repairs once an agreement with Rand Water was reached.
Midrand Reporter sent queries to Rand Water spokesperson Justice Mohale to ask if the agency was aware of the sinkhole allegedly caused by their pipeline.
Despite multiple follow-ups via email, WhatsApp, and phone calls since March 4, Rand Water had not responded by the time of going online.
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