Motorists travelling along the R580/R77, also known as the P185 between Evander and Trichardt, say potholes continue to worsen despite repeated patchwork repairs.

The Ridge Times reported in January that motorists were having to dodge large, deep potholes along the route.

Although repairs were carried out around the time of that report, new potholes have continued to appear, and several previously repaired sections have deteriorated again.

Some potholes have remained unrepaired for months, even before the recent heavy downpours, and holes are becoming larger with every rainfall.

Drivers travelling the busy route daily have reported damage to tyres, rims and wheel alignment, with some vehicles left stranded on the roadside.

One motorist who commutes daily from Evander to Secunda said the damage to his vehicle cost him R2 800.

“I was driving late at night from Evander to Secunda towards the Ext 22 traffic lights when I struck a pothole near the bridge,” said the motorist.

“Luckily for me, I have run-flat tyres on my vehicle. I managed to drive back to Evander at about 40km/h late at night and had the tyre repaired the next day. It is not something you want to experience at that time of night,” said the motorist.

Concerns are raised that potholes are being left open for extended periods, allowing rainwater to collect in them and further weaken the road surface.

With each heavy downpour, existing potholes expand and new ones form, making the road increasingly hazardous for road users.

Motorists who regularly use the P185 are calling for more durable repairs and quicker intervention before the road deteriorates further.

Bongani Dlamini, spokesperson for the Mpumalanga Department of Public Works, Roads and Transport, said the road requires resealing and rehabilitation in some sections, but there are no immediate plans for major maintenance due to budget constraints.

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“However, routine maintenance is carried out annually, including the patching of potholes.”

Dlamini said the road infrastructure has reached the end of its lifespan and requires further maintenance, resealing and rehabilitation.

“Patching is a short-term intervention as a measure to ensure the safety of road users.”

According to Dlamini, the condition of the road is not due to neglect, but rather the result of current funding levels being insufficient to address the maintenance backlog.

“If the funding level for road infrastructure maintenance does not improve, the general condition of the road network will continue to deteriorate due to inadequate funding to meet the growing needs as infrastructure ages.”