JRA asphalt shortage stalls Spencer Road resurfacing in Maraisburg
A changing gas supplier and a municipal water leak delay progress on the long-awaited Maraisburg road project.
Spencer Road in Maraisburg remains a tender subject among residents, golfers, and the management of the historic CMR Golf Course.
On August 24, the Roodepoort Record reported on the road’s state of deterioration and complaints from CMR management about the apparent lack of urgency with which the Johannesburg Roads Agency (JRA) treated the resurfacing project, set to kick off more than three months ago.
JRA said earlier in August that the road resurfacing was ongoing, despite no visible sign of recent JRA activity during a site visit by the Record.
• Also read: Watch: Spencer Road resurfacing: JRA’s non-existent ‘job in progress’
Ward 70 councillor Caleb Finn added that he was unaware of road resurfacing activity at Spencer Road.
“They began resurfacing about three months ago but only managed a very small piece. It has since emerged that they ran out of asphalt and could not continue,” Finn said.
Responding to follow-up questions posed by the Record on August 24, JRA acting head of Regional Operations Mpho Maruping admitted that the resurfacing operation was temporarily interrupted due to an asphalt shortage.
CMR Golf Course faces ongoing road delays
A recent video uploaded to community WhatsApp groups by DA mayoral candidate Helen Zille highlighted how work at the JRA asphalt production plant was halted due to the entity’s inability to procure gas, allegedly because of non-payment of a supplier.
When the Record asked about the alleged non-payment, Maruping said production at the asphalt plant was interrupted due to a changeover to a new gas service provider.
“Asphalt batching has since resumed and normal operations are underway,” he said. He added that nearly 500m out of the 2km stretch of road, which makes up the planned scope of work, has already been resurfaced.
“Additionally, JRA has been working closely with Johannesburg Water (JW) to address a water leak at Spencer Road. JRA is awaiting an order from JW before proceeding with the permanent reinstatement of the affected section of Spencer Road.
“In the interim, the area will be monitored, and any immediate safety concerns will be addressed through temporary maintenance measures where necessary.”
Water leak adds to road reinstatement hold-up
CMR Golf Club chairperson Siki Wadvalla confirmed to the Record that JRA started resurfacing on Wednesday, September 2.
“They started from Main Reef Road toward Albertina Sisulu Road,” he said.
