Concerns raised over delays in reopening Gallo Manor culvert
The slow progression of work regarding a low-bridge culvert in Gallo Manor has raised apprehension in community residents.
Gallo Manor residents have taken issue with delays impacting progress regarding a culvert being repaired in the neighbourhood.
The culvert offers residents the convenience of travelling from one end of the gated community to the next in connecting Canterbury Crescent to Satara Avenue.
Gallo Manor resident Ivan Hollander invited the Sandton Chronicle into his community on October 27 to see firsthand the cause of their concerns.
“I believe there should be some genuine interest in getting this job done correctly,” said Hollander, who works as a civil and structural engineer, and resides a short walk from the culvert site.
“Up to now, these guys have been sitting, enjoying the sun and being paid for it.”
Hollander also shared his concerns over the equipment which had been brought in to work on the site.
“I believe the equipment they bring in is substandard and not adequate for the project. I saw the equipment, it was a traxcavator [type of excavator]. It was leaking oil and it was standing more than it had been working.”
The Johannesburg Roads Agency (JRA) was contacted for comment. JRA spokesperson Bertha Peters-Scheepers responded on November 1 and said, “The project started in June 2023 with the establishment of the site, and the contractor officially started work on July 7. The current project completion date is January 2024, however, reopening of the bridge for use by residents may be further delayed.”
Peters-Scheepers indicated that the delays were due to the process of relocating existing internet fibre services, as well as the removal of trees.
Furthermore, the contractor has submitted an extension of time claim to JRA which is pending approval and the project completion date may be extended on account thereof.
“Despite an undertaking that the fibre wire relocation would take seven days to commence, this did not happen timeously leading to project delays. This aspect has been escalated. JRA sincerely apologises for the project delays and should the project completion date move beyond the end of January 2024, we will communicate the revised timeframes to residents.”
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