WORK to repair a damaged section of the M4 Ruth First Highway has recommenced following the move to the level 4 lockdown.

The highway has been out of commission since last year when a partial road collapse caused the closure of the route between uMhlanga and Sibaya.

Local company, Devru Construction, who have been tasked to carry out the work had to halt repair work on 26 March when the lockdown was enforced.

At the time, workers were in the process of shoring up the western embankment of the highway and laying the curbs along the highway’s edges.

According to ward councillor, Nicole Bollman, although a significant period of time was lost in the repair process once it was halted, all indications pointed to a mid-June finish for the reopening of the highway.

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“In all probability work to repair the damaged section should be done by the middle of June. The contractors are almost on road level which was hard to imagine a few months back when the damaged section was hollowed out into a massive sinkhole. The construction company is awaiting the reopening of various suppliers to continue their work but in the time being they have begun shoring up the western embankment with backfill and layering.

“The horticulturalists project to sow plants and trees along the eastern embankment has also restarted and it’s incredible to see how much difference a week can make. Once all that work is complete work will turn to resurfacing the road and putting in the necessary and v-drains,” she said.

Bollman also urged residents taking advantage of the early morning exercise times to avoid using the M4 as it was still a construction site.

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“The manager of the construction site said he has seen an increase in people cycling, running and walking along the M4 between 6am and 9am. I must stress to residents that from the uMhlanga off-ramp to the construction site entrance, that section has been closed off to the public. It creates a dangerous situation as construction vehicles and workers are using the route from the early morning. So I urge residents to respect the construction site at all times,” she said.

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