The rehabilitation of the West Road Bridge in Greymont could cost an estimated R18m, but Johannesburg Roads Agency (JRA) has confirmed that the project cannot proceed until funding becomes available.

This update follows concerns raised by resident Sudhir Daya and Ward 86 councillor Chantelle Fourie-Shawe about the deteriorating state of the bridge, which has remained closed for more than seven years, and a growing sinkhole at the corner of West Road and Fifth Street.

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JRA head of infrastructure development Kwazelela Mcetywa said that while sewage spills fall under Johannesburg Water’s mandate, the bridge’s structural deterioration and the sinkhole fall within JRA’s road and storm water infrastructure responsibilities. In response to questions about the project’s funding history, Mcetywa confirmed that the bridge rehabilitation programme is citywide and does not have a ring-fenced budget for individual bridges.

This means no specific budget has been set aside for the West Road Bridge. He added that the bridge is currently on JRA’s priority list but cannot be implemented at this stage because of budgetary constraints.

Although the precise rehabilitation cost has not yet been determined, Mcetywa said preliminary assessments indicate that the project could cost about R18m. Mcetywa confirmed that JRA would be able to provide exact project details and timelines once funding had been confirmed.

When asked about interim safety measures, Mcetywa said the bridge had been cordoned off with concrete barriers to prevent both vehicular and pedestrian traffic. He said traffic advisories were also issued when the bridge was closed, directing the public to use alternative routes.

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Mcetywa added that JRA continues to explore alternative funding sources, including provincial and national government departments, for bridge and other infrastructure projects. However, no funding has been received so far. He confirmed that JRA is aware of the sinkhole at the corner of West Road and Fifth Street, stating that repairs to that section would form part of the bridge rehabilitation scope.

The lack of a dedicated budget means the community has no confirmed rehabilitation date, despite the bridge’s position on JRA’s priority list and the preliminary R18m cost estimate.

For residents, the continued closure and deteriorating surrounding infrastructure remain concerns, with the timing of repairs dependent on funding becoming available.

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