RESIDENTS of Temple Road have raised concerns over the deterioration of the road surface under the railway bridge where a large trench has formed.
What is more, the trench is filled with raw sewage which has been flowing down the road due to a blocked sewerage pipe. Residents say the trench was repaired in the past but the constant flow of water and sewage is causing the road surface to erode.
Anil Beekrum, chairman of the Kenville and Sea Cow Lake Ratepayers and Residents Association, said this problem reappeared in March this year.
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“Our concern is for the safety of residents, motorists and pedestrians. There are a number of factors at play all contributing to a dangerous situation. There are no streetlights which makes driving here at night a problem, and the additional flow of wastewater flowing down the road filling up the trench makes it treacherous for pedestrians to walk. This is now a third road left in a terrible state in the area.
“We have Kew Road which is closed due to a collapse, we have Kenville Road which collapsed and is in the process of being repaired, and then we have Temple Road which is at risk of worsening. Temple Road is one of the main entry points into Kenville and if this road is affected, it would lead to a traffic catastrophe. This problem has been a longstanding one and I do feel the overflow of stormwater and sewerage pipes is hastening the erosion of the road surface,” he said.
Resident Shireen Singh, whose home is metres away from the trench, added the problem is a longstanding one.
“It just never stops. I have an overflowing stormwater drain outside my house and the sewage overflow is running into the trench on a daily basis. The municipality come and fix it but then the problem reoccurs. I avoid going that way because only a single vehicle can pass under the railway bridge and some motorists and taxi drivers drive so fast you could get splashed with wastewater,” she said.
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Ward councillor Andrew Akkers confirmed he had escalated the matter to the eThekwini Municipality.
“Water or stormwater faults are reported to municipality and left unattended in the ward. When water erodes the road surface or washes away soil under the road, this results in either potholes or sinkholes or what we see happening on Temple Road. I’m also aware of a sinkhole forming on Hendon Road, another road in the Kenville area. There is either a delay with the water department or the Roads and Stormwater Department when it comes to reinstating the damaged road; it is a knock-on effect. Unfortunately, this is replicated throughout the ward. I have a list of reference numbers with the various issues affecting roads in the area,” he said.
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