Trench at busy Equestria intersection vexing during rush hour
The trench was initially dug to repair a leaking water pipe but remains a hazard weeks later, with one lane closed and limited access for vehicles causing massive congestion.
Residents and motorists in Equestria in the east of Pretoria are growing increasingly frustrated about a trench left open on the corner of Furrow Road and Libertas Avenue.
The barricaded trench in the right lane of Furrow Road next to the corner of Libertas has significantly disrupted traffic flow, especially during rush hour.
The trench was initially dug to repair a leaking water pipe but remains a hazard weeks later, with one lane closed and limited access for vehicles, causing massive congestion.
Tshwane spokesperson Lindela Mashigo confirmed that the trench had been backfilled, and what remains outstanding is the final tar patching to restore the road surface.
“Each time it rains, there’s soil erosion which causes the trench to reopen in the same spot,” said Mashigo.
“A tar patchwork order has already been issued and is awaiting action from the Roads and Storm Water Section.”
Mashigo explained that the repair process was also delayed by wet weather conditions.
“Backfilling wet trenches leads to soil sinking weeks later. It’s essential for a wet trench to dry before importing soil and compacting it properly,” Mashigo told Rekord.
He said responding to public concerns, the city has systems in place to monitor and ensure the quality of trench repairs.
“After the repair work is done, technical supervisors revisit sites for inspections to verify that all backfilling and compaction is done correctly.”
Residents and business owners near the intersection have complained about the negative impact on traffic and daily life.
Mashigo acknowledged the inconvenience and assured residents that the city aimed to minimise disruptions.
“The turnaround time for trench rehabilitation is 14 days. For trenches on tarred roads, we ensure they are backfilled within 48 hours to allow traffic to flow, even while waiting for tar patching,” he added.
Mashigo said the city has also committed to keeping residents informed on the progress and will continue to provide updates until the matter is fully resolved.
Recently, residents of Silverton, Murrayfield, Meyerspark, and La Montagne demanded that Tshwane metro clean up the mess and backfill trenches after pipe repairs.
Despite completing the repairs, technicians failed to fill in trenches and holes, leaving streets in Ward 41 in disarray.
The residents emphasised the safety risks posed by unfilled trenches, pointing to a particularly hazardous example on Kandalaar Avenue.
A trench was left unattended for seven months according to the residents, filling with water, causing road cracks, and allowing vegetation to grow. Despite multiple reports, the issue remains unresolved.
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