In the months leading up to Covid-19, many frustrated motorists took to social media to complain about the state of the Promosa road. It took several accidents before the municipality took the matter seriously.
Finally, early last year (2021), the road was closed for something to be done. According to the former municipal spokesperson, William Maphosa, the outcry from motorists, taxi associations and the broader community led to the preventative maintenance on the Promosa road.
The municipality addressed critically-damaged sections from 35 Pietersen Street to 47 Bloemtjie Street – a total of 3.6 km. In little over a year, residents are dodging gigantic potholes.
On average, a newly-repaired road lasts 10 years, but the Promosa road has barely made it through one.
The municipality’s internal budget and a contribution from OMV funded the project. 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, oper-ating for an average of six hours per day.
By the end of the project, the municipality had recommended regular maintenance inspections. If problems were identified, they would be corrected immediately to prevent further deterioration as previously experienced.
To date, none has been done. “They continue to take us for a ride,” angry resident Bianca Nowell said. While driving on the road, she must be alert to drivers who may overtake under dangerous circumstances while keeping to the decent parts of the road.
“The condition of the road is a great inconvenience,” she lamented. “My car has been severely affected, and no one has to deal with those costs besides me.” Unfortunately for Nowell, going to work every day entails using the road. “I hold my breath whenever I drive on that road; it is completely unsafe,” she said.
Other residents have even resorted to using detours, like the Dassierand or Mohadin-Sonderwater roads, to avoid damaging their cars.
However, this is still inconvenient due to the high petrol costs. “This is an unacceptable situation that taxpayers have to endure every day on the way to or from work or town in Potchefstroom,” motorist Thulani Mabaso said.
“We constantly see them ‘fixing the roads’ but what are they actually doing? A few weeks later, things end up worse than before.” The Herald asked the municipality for comment but had received none by the time of print.
