Spend now, save later on R102 road repair
For much of the distance where the river and the road run side by side, gabion baskets have been installed to keep the bank retained.
THERE is a section of the R102 between Scottburgh and Umkomaas which runs along the bank of the Amahlongwa River for a distance of around 200 metres.
In some places, the top of the river bank is just about two metres from the edge of the road and during a flood several years ago, the swollen river caused part of the road to collapse.
This was repaired, at great cost, by the Department of Transport (DOT).
For much of the distance where the river and the road run side by side, gabion baskets have been installed to keep the bank retained.
However, where the row of gabions ends, the bank has again begun to collapse, posing a distinct threat to the roadway itself.
“The situation is difficult to assess fully from the road itself, but I spend time boating on the river, from where the problem is much more obvious,” said concerned local, Neil Lamble.
Mr Lamble contacted the regional DOT office towards the end of last year to bring this problem to their attention.
“My point is that if the DOT spends a small amount of money now it would avoid major expense and major inconvenience to motorists in the future by preventing the road from collapsing as it did before.”
The DOT has sent a team to inspect the area, and feedback is awaited.
