Long term solution needed for High Street bridge

WARNINGS unheeded when the High Street Bridge was first being constructed have left the unpleasant taste of “I told you so,” in the mouths of municipal officials, councillors, and contractors alike.

In a letter issued by local contractor, Dirk Booysen, to the engineer appointed to work on the bridge in 2014, Mr Booysen warned that after the completion of the road, the water reticulation system would be approximately four meters below the asphalt surface and this would present a problem in the future.

The heavy load applied to the pipes would put them under enormous pressure.

“Should there be any leaks, it will be unnoticed until the area is saturated and the road’s integrity is severely compromised. Repair work would be extremely difficult and the road will most likely be destroyed in the process,” warned Mr Booysen.

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Mr Booysen went on to present a few options on how to manage the problem so that it would not cost ratepayers more money in the future, suggesting either a culvert system or a route around the bridge abutment… But his cautioning fell on deaf ears.

The Director in charge at the time, allegedly said that the municipality would deal with any issues as they arose.

Three years later, the High Street bridge still isn’t complete after the municipality ran out of money. A burst asbestos pipe beneath the bridge has forced the municipality to dig up the existing ‘road’ to conduct repairs.

Some parts of Bhekuzulu and the surrounding area have not had running water until the repair work could be completed. While the damaged part of the asbestos pipe was replaced with PVC as a temporary solution to the water crisis in Bhekuzulu, the excavation to gain access to the pipe remains open while a permanent solution is being looked into. The remaining asbestos piping under the bridge may also burst at any time.

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Former DA councilor, Harry Heyns, said he had also warned the Department of Technical Services that the pipes needed to be diverted because they would eventually burst and then the municipality would have a problem repairing it.

“There was so much stealing going on, as usual, when this bridge was being built that there was not enough money at the end to finish the job,” he said.