New truck route concern in Richards Bay

Temporary road fix can't cope with heavy rains and increasing heavy vehicle pressure

1 hour ago

Dave Savides 1 minute read

The scene on Wednesday at Harbour Arterial after recent heavy rains caused potholes to deepen Photos: Erwin Kruger

The heavy rains of the past fortnight have again done significant damage to the vital road link from the John Ross highway to the harbour.

The severely eroded Harbour Arterial, which leads from the Alton robots, past Bayside smelter, to the east gate of the port, was barely navigable even for large trucks after potholes deepened last week.

In some instances, vehicles had to be towed from eroded and flooded sections of the road.

This important section of the coal transport route has a history of failing, and in February 2025 the City of uMhlathuze was forced to close the road to traffic.

Blame was squarely placed on the impossible load exacted by tipper trucks that hammer the road infrastructure.

Only a massive collective effort by industry role players saw the road reopened within days after emergency repairs were effected.

With yellow equipment and labour donated, gravel was brought in, holes were filled, watercourses were rerouted, drainage trenches dug, and the road levelled.

However, it was openly stated by then uMhlathuze Deputy Mayor Christo Botha that this was a temporary, emergency fix, as the city did not have the R22m required for a proper rebuild of the 500m section of road.

That never happened, and it is almost back to square one.

A city engineer confirmed there is an agreement with Eyamakhosi and Grindrod to do ongoing temporary repairs until such time as the funding is available for ‘proper construction’ – which might not be in the foreseeable future.

On Friday, a team was in action undertaking repairs that will buy some time.

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