VIDEO: North community fixes potholes
As many as four layers of asphalt were used to fix one of the bigger potholes in Pretoria North.
Pretoria North residents and businesses rolled up their sleeves to fix potholes in the area themselves recently.
Last week members of Pretoria North Residents Association (PNRA), business owners and a local ward councillor joined in to repair potholes plaguing the area.
A massive pothole in Ben Viljoen Street, which had been the bane of residents for over two years, was finally repaired.
In May, PNRA chairperson Hammies Hamilton called on residents to lend a hand.
“Potholes have always been a problem because of the ageing roads,” Hamilton said.
“We can’t wait around for the municipality to fix it, or wait for more potholes to form – we have to take action.”
ALSO READ: North potholes a ‘dam’ big concern – residents to fix it themselves
The community forum marked out 150 potholes of various sizes and depths throughout Pretoria North, but the plan to fix them was delayed because of a lack of equipment, resources and expertise.
Last week, however, the plan fell back into place as Much Asphalt and Gaisa Road Construction joined the initiative.
“We read Rekord’s article about the community effort to fix potholes themselves – and thought we could lend a hand,” said Carel Jacobs of Gaisa Road Construction.
Jacobs and his team offered labour and expertise to help with repairs, along with Much Asphalt supplying the tar.
Jacobs explained a few of the steps in fixing a pothole and said four layers of asphalt were used to repair this pothole.
WATCH:
Pretoria North ward councillor Yolanda Duvenage said she was glad to see the pothole in Ben Viljoen Street (on the corner of Gerrit Maritz) repaired.
“Two years ago, I ran a petition to get this particular pothole fixed,” Duvenage said.
“It had been the cause of a lot of accidents and damage to vehicles.”
Duvenage thanked residents, PNRA, Tshwane metro police, sponsors and businesses who helped with repairs or regulating traffic in the area.
“We want to especially thank Danie Buurman and Riaan Odendaal of Much Asphalt, Jacobs and his team from Gaisa Road Construction who made the repairs possible,” she said.
“Thanks to Helpende Hand who provided all the hard workers with food and then to every other resident and PNRA member who contributed in this initiative – you are the foundation of this community.”
ALSO READ: More than half of reported potholes fixed, says metro
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