Parkmore’s infamous pond dries up but doubts continue to run deep
Years of complaints have finally resulted in repairs at the flooded 4th Street and Victoria Avenue intersection in Parkmore, but new leaks have raised concerns that the underground water problem may be far from over.
For the first time in years, motorists can drive through the intersection of 4th Street and Victoria Avenue in Parkmore without navigating a giant pool of water.
The infamous pond that frustrated residents, damaged roads, and disrupted traffic has finally disappeared following repair work by Johannesburg Roads Agency (JRA), but while the surface tells one story, residents fear the real problem may still be flowing underground.
During a site visit with the Sandton Chronicle on July 23, Ward 90 councillor Renate van Onselen and Parkmore suburb manager, and Ward 90 committee member, Lori Klein welcomed the completion of the repair work, but cautioned that only time, and the return of the rainy season, will determine whether the solution is permanent.
Klein, who has monitored the storm water issues in the suburb for years, said when the construction was being done she noticed that JRA has now diverted the water system along 4th Street, as opposed to it continuing down Victoria Avenue. “I am a little bit worried that the underground water problem might not have been completely resolved. The water likes running straight; it doesn’t like going at 90° corners, but I guess we have to wait for the water from the rainfall and see what transpires.”
Klein also raised concerns about the water seepage at the corner of 5th and Victoria streets, where the repairs were also done. “We have another water leak that seems to be appearing from underneath the asphalt, and it seems to be getting worse. Even though the water flow’s not heavy, it’s definitely trickling, and it’s now starting to move on both sides of the road.”
Van Onselen added that during earlier joint inspections with Johannesburg Water and JRA, officials agreed that the problem needed to be resolved from the upper section of the drainage system first. “When we met with Johannesburg Water and JRA, they started from the top [6th and 5th Streets]. Somewhere in the middle of Victoria Avenue, there is a spring coming up, and I worry we’re going to be back to square one again at some point.”
Despite all that, both Van Onselen and Klein are pleased that traffic can once again move safely through the intersection, although they both say further work is still needed. “After all the reporting over many, many years, the beautiful pond we had at the corner, has now finally been fixed. We’re very grateful and happy that something has been done. The road is open and people can drive.
“We do need some road markings to be reinstated again though, as people are not stopping at the stop sign here; they’re just driving straight through.”
The Sandton Chronicle sent a media enquiry to JRA on July 23. The enquiry requested a comment on the following questions:
• Can JRA provide details of the repair work undertaken at the corner of 4th Street and Victoria Avenue, and confirm whether the underlying cause of the road failure was fully resolved?
• Was the storm water or underground drainage system rerouted during the repair process, and if so, what engineering assessments were conducted to ensure the new configuration will function effectively during periods of heavy rainfall?
• Was JRA aware of councillor’s requests for meetings regarding the project, and what public engagement processes were followed during the planning and implementation of the repairs?
• Since Johannesburg Water previously stated that the water running through Victoria Avenue is from a borehole, and falls outside their mandate, has JRA investigated reports of a possible underground water leak emerging near the corner of 5th Street and Victoria Avenue, and will the agency conduct an inspection of the area?
• When will the road markings at the intersection of 4th Street and Victoria Avenue be completed, and are there any further monitoring plans in place to assess the success of the repairs?
On July 27, JRA said: “The team is scheduled to undertake an assessment of the site [on July 27] and will be able to provide a detailed response regarding the water seepage and its source by [July 28].”
Also read: JRA responds to Kew pothole concerns
On July 29, JRA responded to the concerns regarding the underground water leak emerging near the corner of 5th Street and Victoria Avenue saying: “Our inspector indicated that the water leak is from JW’s pipes, and they have been made aware of it.” However, the roads agency did not provide responses to the other questions in the media enquiry.
Follow up enquiries were sent to JRA on July 30, 31, and August 1.
The publication also reached out to Johannesburg Water on July 30 and August 3, to confirm if they are aware of the leak and to confirm if the leak is indeed from their pipe, as stated by JRA, but no comment was received from either entity by the time of print. Updates will be provided once they become available.
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