VEREENIGING.- After four weeks of intensive engineering work, the Klipriver Drive and Duma Nokwe Road intersection in Three Rivers has been reopened to traffic.

The intersection was opened last week, marking the completion of a major rehabilitation and rebuilding intervention on one of the area’s important transport routes.

The project required close coordination between the Emfuleni Local Municipality’s (ELM) roads department, engineers and the appointed contractor.

ELM’s mayor, Hassan Mako, said that the completion of the road project represents more than just its reopening, as it reflects a simple principle that guides his approach to service delivery.

“Our people cannot be expected to carry the burden of inconvenience indefinitely when infrastructure needs to be fixed. Residents need to get to work. Businesses need customers to reach them. Deliveries need to move. Pedestrians need safe passage. Emergency and other essential services need reliable routes. Every additional day of unnecessary disruption has an impact on people’s livelihoods and daily lives.”

The reopening was met with visible relief and excitement from motorists, pedestrians, residents and businesses. The sound of passing vehicles and the smiles of those using the road again captured the significance of what had been achieved.

The mayor said that the municipality must continue to approach infrastructure with a sense of urgency, accountability and respect for residents who ultimately bear the consequences when infrastructure fails.

He emphasised that while major infrastructure projects inevitably require some disruption, inconvenience must be managed, minimised and brought to an end as quickly as reasonably possible.

“Communities should be able to see progress, understand what is being done and, most importantly, experience the benefits of completed projects. The successful completion of the Klipriver Drive and Duma Nokwe Road rehabilitation therefore sets an important standard for future infrastructure interventions; plan properly, mobilise the necessary resources, work closely with technical experts and contractors, and deliver quality infrastructure without unnecessarily keeping communities in limbo. For the people of Three Rivers, the road is open again. For the municipality, the work continues,” concluded the mayor.