City plans to remove Carnation Street’s invasive tree roots
After approximately 95% of motorists were seen swerving into the opposite lane to avoid the raised pothole, Johannesburg City Parks and Zoo says root pruning on Carnation Street is set for next week.
A hazardous stretch of Carnation Street in Gallo Manor is set to be repaired after invasive tree roots pushed up the asphalt.
This created, what Ward 109 councillor Lori Coogan described as, a raised pothole that has forced drivers into the opposite lane. After observing traffic patterns along the busy residential road during a site visit with the Sandton Chronicle on February 23, Coogan noted that the majority of motorists were veering into oncoming traffic to avoid damaging their vehicles. “What has happened is that the tree’s roots have extended along the road. As a result of this extension, vehicles have impacted this raised structure. We now have a pothole here.”
Read more: Tree roots posing danger to drivers in Gallo Manor to be removed
She said about 95% of vehicles were swerving to the other lane to get past this section, increasing the risk of collisions. “I think the combination of the height and the pothole has actually made it quite an issue for motorists. People are consciously even waiting before they go into the opposite side of the road to avoid damaging their vehicles.”
Coogan added that she engaged with Johannesburg Roads Agency (JRA) and Johannesburg City Parks and Zoo (JCPZ) on site, and both entities committed to addressing the problem.
Responding to the media enquiries from the publication on February 24, JCPZ spokesperson Jenny Moodley confirmed that a preliminary assessment found tree roots had extended beneath the road surface. This caused the upliftment of the asphalt and subsequent damage from passing vehicles. “Public safety remains a priority, and JCPZ is working collaboratively with JRA to address the matter in a co-ordinated manner, given that it involves both arboricultural and road infrastructure components.”
Also read: JCPZ’s blitz plan for park in Bryanston
Root pruning has been scheduled for March 3 and will be conducted jointly with JRA to ensure that both the tree management and road surface repair processes are properly aligned. “Following the root pruning process, JRA will proceed with the necessary road surface repairs to restore structural integrity and eliminate the hazard.”
While some residents have questioned whether the tree should be removed entirely, Moodley emphasised that requests for tree removals are only undertaken as a last resort, following a comprehensive technical assessment by qualified JCPZ officials. “Trees are removed only where they are structurally unsafe, dead, diseased beyond recovery, or where no other mitigation measures are feasible. The city remains committed to preserving Johannesburg’s urban forest, while ensuring public safety.”
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