Sinking median on Margaret Maytom Avenue a road hazard
Heavy rains have led to soil erosion, creating the sinkhole and damaging several sections of the median.
A DURBAN North resident has raised the alarm over a sinking median at the lower end of Margaret Maytom Avenue which has created a sizable sinkhole.
Buzz Bolton said the sinking median poses a danger to pedestrians, cyclists, motorists and also trail runners crossing from one section of the Virginia Bush Nature Reserve to the other.
The damaged section is just metres away from Hinton Grove and Virginia Preparatory School.
In recent years, heavy rains led to the soil eroding, creating the sinkhole and damaging several sections of the median.
Also read: Recent heavy rains underscore stormwater drains’ importance in north Durban
Another area of concern is damaged stormwater drains further up, leading to large volumes of water flowing down the slope of Margaret Maytom Avenue and causing more erosion.
“I’ve been looking for suggestions or solutions that we as residents could take to fill the hole. This really should be a job for the eThekwini Municipality but there is no help forthcoming. My worry is for drivers and runners, especially in the early morning runs, when it is more dark. I run with a group of trail runners and we cross over from the lower bush to the middle bush and I’ve warned them all about the hole.
“If a motorist or bike or cyclist hits this or goes into the hole, they will damage their vehicles and bicycles significantly. There are other sections of the median that have begun eroding below the road surface but this particular one seems to be widening and getting worse. If no action is taken by the rainy season I envision the problem getting worse and possibly damaging the road. When I stand in the hole I’m almost up to my hip,” Bolton said.
Ward 36 councillor Heinz de Boer acknowledged the problem, saying the hole posed a danger to motorists.
“Sadly there are a number of damaged stormwater drains in the area and large volumes of water flowing through this road seem to pool in the hole and leads to more erosion. It is a very dangerous situation,” he said.
For more from Northglen News, follow us on Facebook , X or Instagram. You can also check out our videos on our YouTube channel or follow us on TikTok.
Click to subscribe to our newsletter – here
