POLOKWANE – Road users around the Polokwane CBD have expressed relief at the ongoing repairs of some roads, which had been in a longstanding state of disrepair.

The issue of potholes and worn-out tar roads, which cause vehicle damage and pose safety concerns, has been a persistent problem in the city.

Many users have been displeased with the state of internal roads, alleging that these have been more neglected than the main or larger ones.

Residents have called on the municipality to further extend its efforts to repair other roads under its jurisdiction to enhance the development of the city.

Rocky Meso and Lloyd de Lange, who drive industrial trucks daily on Mika and Fosfaat Streets to their respective workplaces, are just among those who acknowledged that these roads required urgent attention.

Several streets have recently been closed for rehabilitation by a contractor of the Polokwane Municipality.

According to municipal spokesperson Thipa Selala, these streets will be reopened for normal use from July 23.

The closures began last Tuesday, and Selala emphasised that other portions would be reopened as the contractor completes them.

“These closures are necessary to ensure the proper rehabilitation and improvement of municipal street infrastructure, which is vital for enhancing road safety, reducing congestion, and improving overall traffic flow within the city,” he explained.

The streets undergoing rehabilitation include:

• Boom Street from Devenish to Excelsior
• Bodenstein Street from Paul Kruger to Schoeman
• Rabe Street from Plein to Oost
• Dorp Street from Hospital to Rabe
• Jorissen Street from Plein to Dorp
• Hans van Rensburg Street from Devenish to Grobler

Portions of other roads, such as some in Ladanna and Ladine, have also undergone similar rehabilitation in recent weeks.

Mayor John Mpe has shown a keen interest in repairing roads since last year during a short-lived programme he termed ‘the war against potholes’.

For several months, he joined municipal workers one day each week to fill potholes in parts of the municipal area.