Long Road won’t reopen any time soon
What initially was just a pipe burst, has turned into a freeze for commuters and residents, as Long Road, in Greymont, still remains closed, awaiting Johannesburg Water's repairs, as well as the upgrades they are now planning.
Long Road will have to wait a bit longer to be reopened, following a leak caused by an attempted cable theft that inadvertently damaged a water pipe in April.
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Ward 86 councillor Chantelle Fourie-Shawe stated that the closure has been in place for well over a month now, as repairs for the road are slow. “Johannesburg Water (JW) had initially addressed the leak. However, the clamp used to fix the pipe was not a proper fit, leading to another burst.”
JW spokesperson Nombuso Shabalala confirmed that the road closure is part of a JW upgrades project, which includes the installation of a new water pipeline and a pressure-reducing valve.
Shawe explained that the situation arose due to JW linking bulk infrastructure to the water supply from the development project in Newlands.
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She emphasised the urgency of the repairs, highlighting that once they resolve the leak, ICON Group main civil contractors would be able to compact and reinstate the road.
In addition to the repairs, Fourie-Shawe saw the bright side to it. She expressed her relief at the planned installation of new sidewalks along Long Road. “It is amazing for Long Road actually. It is one of the things that I have been fighting for with the city for years,” she said.
Ollie Pretorius, site supervisor for ICON, acknowledged that weather conditions have posed challenges, but confirmed that all necessary materials are on site and are ready to finish the job. It is just a matter of installing and connecting to get everything sorted.
The community waits with bated breath for the repairs, and upgrades, to be finalised.
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