Fresh potholes form not even a metre away from rehabilitated section in Kew

Johannesburg Roads Agency (JRA) has defended the quality of road repairs carried out in July at the intersection of 4th Avenue and 10th Road in Kew, despite new potholes forming less than a metre away from the rehabilitated section.

This comes after residents and motorists raised concerns about fresh and worsening potholes, some of which have since been temporarily filled with soil by community members as they await formal repairs.

According to JRA regional operations manager Khayalethu Gqibitole, the work completed in July involved full rehabilitation of the intersection itself. “The intersection at 10th Road and the corner of 4th Avenue was rehabilitated.

The intersection was cut out and compacted in accordance with the applicable standards, and a standard medium-graded hot mix asphalt was laid and compacted according to standards.”

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He added that a recent inspection confirmed that the exact section repaired in July remains in good condition. “Based on the inspection, conducted on January 8, the rehabilitated section remains in good condition, with no potholes at the section that was patched.”

However, residents have pointed out that the newly formed potholes along 10th Road are not even a metre away from the repaired area, raising questions about the durability of the surrounding road surface and the effectiveness of limited rehabilitation.

Gqibitole acknowledged the proximity, but said the potholes shown in photographs are technically outside the rehabilitated footprint. “The potholes referenced are located on 4th Avenue, between 10th and 11th roads, with additional potholes also developing along 10th Road.

“These are newly formed potholes that developed during the recent heavy rains and thunderstorms.”

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He explained that the affected road has reached the end of its design life, making it vulnerable to rapid deterioration during periods of heavy rainfall. “Due to the fact that the road has reached the end of its design life, the formation of potholes after periods of heavy rainfall is to be expected.”

Addressing concerns about drainage, heavy vehicle usage, or sub-base failure, he said no drainage problems had been identified at the site. “There are no drainage issues at the location. The road has reached its lifespan where major rehabilitation is required. This is why multiple potholes develop during heavy rain, but JRA always ensures that developing potholes are addressed to ensure road safety.”

JRA confirmed that the newly formed potholes have already been assessed, but repairs will only take place later this month due to reduced staffing during the festive season.

“Due to the fact that a significant portion of our workforce is still on December leave, repairs are scheduled for the fourth week of January, when most of our teams will have returned from leave.”

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