Multimillion rand M1 Double Decker Bridge rehabilitation partly did not serve purpose
Recently, the bridge was closed to traffic because of flooding.
Even after the rehabilitation of the M1 double decker bridge, flooding is still persists with recent flash floods proving it.
Recently, the bridge was closed to traffic because of flooding.
In a recent statement by the Gauteng Provincial Legislature’s Roads and Transport Portfolio Committee, they expressed concerns over the complaints received by motorists about the bridge’s constant flooding during heavy rains.
“The recent rehabilitation of the M1 double decker section that took almost two years to complete was at an estimated value of R169-million, with a project scope that included the reinstatement and upgrading of the existing stormwater drainage system and the stormwater inlet system. However, the section’s upgrade could not endure the heavy rains that were experienced in Gauteng on October,” said Dumisani Dakile, chairperson of the Roads and Transport Portfolio Committee.
“This appears to have been a partial waste of public resources as the recent flooding has proven that the drainage system that was meant to be addressed with the recent rehabilitation, still does not work.”
Dakile said the committee noted that this was not the first rehabilitation that was meant to address a similar project scope. In January 2016, R82-m was spent when the very section of the freeway experienced heavy traffic congestions as a result of flash flooding.
“The October 5 flooding was the first of many heavy rains to follow during the rainy season in Gauteng. The bridge is a daily convenient route that is used by many motorists in the province.
“As a committee we are committed to look into the matter and we will get the Joburg Road Agency (JRA) to account for the unsatisfactory results that were meant to be addressed in the project scope.”
As a first step, the committee will initiate a meeting with Section 79/80 Committee of City of Johannesburg where JRA can present, among others, the actual expenditure report of the project.
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