Midrand councillor questions stalled R55 project
Ward 132 councillor Annette Deppe says the unfinished R55 provincial road maintenance project, near Kyalami Corner, is worsening already severe traffic congestion, as she questions where the province, and the contractor are.
A road maintenance project, along the R55 near Kyalami Corner, has remained incomplete for nearly a month.
According to Ward 132 councillor Annette Deppe, the contractor responsible for the work has allegedly abandoned the site, despite the project being expected to be completed several weeks ago.
Read more: Potholes push Midrand Ward 132 to breaking point as residents demand urgent action
The maintenance work, undertaken by the provincial roads department, has reduced sections of the busy R55 to a single lane, further worsening traffic delays for motorists travelling near the Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit.
Deppe said workers have not been seen on site for weeks, and attempts to get updates from the project manager have been unsuccessful. Speaking to Midrand Reporter during a site visit on March 17, the councillor said: “We have been watching this project since it started about a month and a half ago. For the last three weeks, there has been nobody on this side.
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“I was told, the week before it rained, that they would be finished that week. Then it rained. It’s been two weeks since we haven’t had rain, and there’s been nobody on site. So, it’s a provincial maintenance project, and they’ve abandoned the site.”
@caxtonjoburgnorth WATCH: Ward 132 councillor Annette Deppe calls for urgent action on incomplete road maintenance along the busy R55 route on March 17. Video: Comfort Makhanya #Midrand #Ward132 ♬ original sound – Caxton Joburg North
Deppe said the incomplete roadworks are contributing to the severe congestion along the R55, with traffic backing up from both directions during peak periods. “Parents from these areas who bring their children to schools on this side of the road now have to sit in traffic every morning. A school run that should take 15 minutes is now taking close to an hour.
“Where is the province? Where is this contractor? We need them to come back and finish this job. We cannot have traffic sitting like this every day, morning and night.”
On March 17, the Midrand Reporter contacted Simphiwe Hlatshwayo, the head of the project from the provincial roads department, to inquire about the status of the project. An update will be provided as soon as a response is received.
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