There is progress with Drysdale Road repairs
Drysdale Road in Sundowner remains closed, and residents are urged to use alternative routes.
It has been over a month since the Johannesburg Roads Agency (JRA) initiated a temporary full road closure on Drysdale Road in Sundowner.
The road was on the verge of collapse after it was hit by severe floods that affected some suburbs in Johannesburg North earlier in the year. The floods pushed over a fence on the side of the road, as well as opening a gaping hole, which was a danger to road users.
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The road had since been closed, with contractors busy with the repairs on site. The Randburg Sun visited the site with Ward 134 councillor Devon Steenkamp to report on the progress. The hole has been closed, and a cement retaining wall has been built.
Steenkamp explained that the contractor has not given a specific completion date but said they are confident that they will finish in the last week of October.
Steenkamp explained that there is still a lot of work that needs to be done, including the installation of gabions to protect the riverbank.
“I feel the progress has been slow. If they really just put the manpower and the political will into it, they could have finished this job way sooner.”
He said that the problem with the road being closed is that it’s also affecting businesses that are situated along the road, as well as in the area.
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“Some of them [businesses] have said that their turnover has decreased by 40%. So, they’re also really pleading for this road to be reopened because it is quite a main route, and I mean, their customers are getting frustrated that there’s no easy access to get to these businesses.
We’ve got a doctor’s rooms that’s up the road, Spar and the Shell garage that’s also being affected.”
The councillor also reminds the residents not to use the road as it can be dangerous, and also to avoid further delays.
@caxtonjoburgnorth Ward 134 councillor Devon Steenkamp provides an update on the closed Drysdale Road in Sundowner and urges residents not to use the road. Video: Mthulisi Lwazi Khuboni#LocalNews #caxtonlocalmedia #trendingviralvideo #SA #servicedelivery ♬ original sound – Caxton Joburg North
Questions were sent to JRA regarding the updates and the estimated time of completion. The response will be published once made available.
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