Promosa road damaged less than four months after repair

As recently as October last year, the Promosa road was reopened after weeks of repairs. Almost four months later, motorists are already dodging major potholes.

According to William Maphosa, the municipal spokesperson, the outcry from motorists, taxi associations and the broader community led to the preventative maintenance on Promosa Road. The municipality addressed critically damaged sections of the road from 35 Pietersen Street to 47 Bloemtjie Street – a total of 3.6 km.

“We had to improve the infrastructure to acceptable minimum standards. We wanted to improve living conditions and provide a safer environment for both vehicles and pedestrians.
We also sought to develop and increase the SMME involvement in the execution of the project,” Maphosa explained.

The project was funded through the municipality’s internal budget and a contribution from OMV. The internal funds amounted to R6,991,405.75 (including Vat and professional fees). The contractor received R6,209,468.70 and the consultant, R781,937.05.
OMV supplied material to the value of R518,000 (excluding Vat). It also provided an excavator for four months, operating at an average of some six hours per day. OMV also paid for the block paving intersection.

The municipality provided the scope of work, which indicated that the rehabilitation of the road had focused on repairing three km of road and rebuilding 450 m. It includes the following components of the scope of work:
• Repair potholes on the existing road – 1,400 m²
• Remove base course on the section of road where the base failure occurred. Replace base with G1 and cover with 40 mm asphalt – 3100m²
• Excavate and place dump rock to stabilise waterlogged area across a culvert and instal subsoil drainage
• Recycle, stabilise and compact selected material from existing road base over washed away culvert area – 450 m
• Import G1 and construct 150 mm road base to 88 per cent apparent density – 450 m
• Place 40 mm asphalt wearing course on newly constructed base – 450 m
• Stormwater management – Stormwater channel/berm

Maphosa added that they experi-enced a few challenges over the contractual duration. “The road condition was much worse than when the initial inspection was done.

The pothole repair quantities were much higher than anticipated and we discovered that the foundation of the existing road was not sufficient to carry the heavy loads,” he said.

By the end of the project, the municipality had recommended that maintenance inspections on the road be done regularly. If problems are identified, they should be corrected immediately to prevent further deterioration as previously experienced.
Following the recommendation, the Herald asked the municipality for comment but had received none by the time of going to print.