Blue Bridge in Craighall damaged after severe storm in Johannesburg

Torrential rain on March 6 left parts of Johannesburg flooded, with roads submerged, cars swept away, and infrastructure damaged. Residents woke up to the aftermath of the intense storm, which caused walls to collapse and left many areas impassable. Motorists have been urged to avoid flooded roads as emergency teams assess the damage.

Read more here: WATCH: Severe flooding after record rainfall in Randburg

Ward 90 councillor Martin Williams has raised concerns about the Blue Bridge across the Braamfontein Spruit near Marlborough and Rothesay avenues in Craighall Park. The bridge, located next to Delta Café, has sustained visible damage, with its concrete walkway sagging after the storm surge. Williams has asked Johannesburg Roads Agency (JRA) to conduct an urgent inspection to determine the extent of the structural impact.

He said, “The foundations are eroded on the Marlborough Avenue side and the concrete walkway has sagged. The gabions are now in far worse condition than when I pointed out the damage to JRA in 2020 and 2023.”

Read more: Recent floods seem to have affected blue bridge in Delta Park

“Budget is the over-riding factor, as can be seen from JRA’s priority list, where issues are ranked from one to five, depending on severity. Number one priority is when there is a threat to life, limb and property.  It’s a busy thoroughfare, used by thousands of residents for walking, jogging, cycling, and horse-riding. It’s also on a commuting route for people getting to and from work, shopping.”

The bridge has been inspected multiple times before, but JRA’s limited budget means repairs are prioritised based on the severity of the threat. Without immediate intervention, the damage could worsen, but funding remains a challenge unless it is classified as life-threatening.

Read more: Residents on edge as flooding hits Platina bridge in Jukskei Park, again

Authorities have yet to provide an official statement on the damage.