Mtuba sinkhole repairs well underway
Contractors should finish work on the Mtuba sinkhole within 3 weeks.
AS the sinkhole road closure in Mtubatuba continues to cause chaos, contractors are making headway with repairs.
After identifying the cause of the massive sinkhole as a corroded armco corrugated steel pipe, the entire width of the road had to be dug up to ensure all affected piping could be removed and new piping installed.
‘The contractors are busy pipe jacking and replacing the corroded steel pipe with a new 1.2m diameter concrete pipe,’ said Hluhluwe Department of Transport Cost Centre Manager Thola Dingiswayo on Friday.
‘It is a much bigger job than initially anticipated, but the contractors should finish within three weeks.’
By noon on Friday the replacement concrete pipe was on site, ready to be installed.
Since the road collapsed, motorists have had to use a diverted route when travelling between Mtubatuba and Riverview or the industrial area.
Some residents feel the diversion is not appropriately signposted, causing chaos over the weekends.
‘There is no signage from the St Lucia road around town to indicate the alternate route behind Mtubatuba Primary,’ said one business owner who constantly receives telephone calls from lost customers.
Everyone needing to access Mtubatuba or St Lucia must use the St Lucia/Nongoma exit off the N2.
DID YOU KNOW?
Like our Facebook page and follow us on Twitter.
For news straight to your phone invite us:
BBM – 25A0BF5A or 2B7993C8
WhatsApp – 072 069 4169
