Safety fears as dangerous roads in Stubens remain unrepaired
A resident says repeated reports to the Johannesburg Road Agency have gone unanswered as deteriorating roads continue to place motorists at risk.
A Strubens Valley resident is calling on the Johannesburg Roads Agency (JRA) to urgently repair several deteriorating roads in the suburb, warning that worsening potholes, washed-away road surfaces and loose gravel are creating dangerous conditions for motorists.
Tiaan Scholtz said Sixpence Road, the intersection of Spaargeld and Staatspond Avenue, Sikkel Street and a pothole outside 944 Florin Road have become major safety concerns.
“Sixpence Road is a disaster. Parts of the road have been completely washed away,” Scholtz said.
He said the intersection of Spaargeld and Staatspond Avenue has become ‘a maze of potholes and gravel’, making it particularly hazardous for motorcyclists.
“I nearly fell off my motorcycle because of the gravel,” he said.
According to Scholtz, Sikkel Street has also fallen into disrepair despite being only about 50m long.
“Sikkel Street is riddled with potholes even though it’s such a short road,” he said.
Scholtz also expressed frustration over a large pothole outside 944 Florin Road that previously received media attention but remains unrepaired.
“The pothole is still there, but the sign and Christmas decorations were removed,” he said.
Despite repeatedly logging service requests with the JRA, Scholtz said there has been little visible progress. He hopes the agency will act before the deteriorating roads result in serious injuries or damage to vehicles.
In response to a previous media enquiry, the JRA confirmed to the Roodepoort Northsider on March 6 that the damage to Sixpence Road was caused by unlawful stormwater discharge from a private property into the municipal road reserve. The agency said the property owner had been instructed to stop the illegal discharge and implement compliant stormwater control measures or face enforcement action, while remedial works to restore the road were being assessed.
The Northsider sent a media enquiry to JRA media officer Kedibone Mafa on July 27, requesting comment by 09:00 on Monday, August 3, regarding the condition of roads in Strubens Valley and what action the agency intends taking to address the deteriorating road conditions in the area.
At the time of going to print, no response had been received.
