The Johannesburg Roads Agency (JRA) has made significant headway with the inspection and repairs of road infrastructure, traffic signals, bridges and culverts following this year’s abnormally heavy rains, the road agency reported.
The JRA reports that its team has worked seven days a week completing repairs on 70% of damage caused by the flooding. It has repaired 23504 potholes, done 7981m
2 patching, Skoffeling 36044m
2 and cleared, unblocked and performed minor repairs on 1819 stormwater drains. Nine bridges within the City of Johannesburg were identified and prioritised for immediate repairs. The JRA committed R37 million for bridge repairs, including culverts and gabions, within the city.
Breakdown ofbridges repairs- Main Road culvert, Riverbend Agricultural Holdings
A hydrological survey and geotechnical investigation is in progress and a report will soon be released. The estimated construction period is 6 months.
- Felstead Road culvert, Northriding
Surveys and demolition of existing structure have been completed. Excavation for the new structure is currently in progress. The estimated construction period is 3 months.
- Cornelius Road culvert over Klein Jukskei River
Progress has begun on the temporary installation of lateral support to collapsed areas of the embankment. Removal of debris on the riverbed has been completed. The scope includes the reconstruction of the culvert, stabilisation of the embankment and upgrade of the scour protection. The estimated construction period is 4 months.
- Niven Road culvert, Douglasdale
Demolition and reconstruction of the existing structure has begun on the downstream side. Construction will include realignment of the roadway. JRA has discovered power lines and is in talks with Eskom in this regard.The estimated construction period is 4 months.
- Riverside Road bridge, Ivory Park
Lateral support to the collapsed area of the embankment has been completed. Construction is estimated to take 4 months.
- Coleraine Drive culvert, Sandton
Way leaves are in place and site establishment is complete. Existing pipes and cable services have been exposed and JRA is awaiting Telkom’s removal of the cables which is delaying the reconstruction of the bridge. A sewage line which is in the way has been identified and JRA is in talks with Joburg Water in this regard. Excavation has commenced and JRA has encountered a huge amount of mass concrete that is currently being demolished. Old culverts have been removed except those which are under Telkom lines andDetailedgeotechnical and hydrological studies are being conducted while a topographical survey has been completed.
- Watercombe Street culvert, Farmall
The bridge is adequate and only repairs and maintenance to the structure and safety elements will be done. Construction work is planned to commence in mid-May 2014.
- Third Street culvert, Chartwell
The culvert will be rehabilitated and restored to its original condition. The scope includes stormwater protection and installation of barriers on the culvert edges for safety.
- Ballyclare Drive bridge, Bryanston
The repair work on the bridge is planned to commence mid-May 2014. The scope mainly entails the replacement of missing steel handrails, concrete barriers and repairs to existing steel handrails. The estimated construction period is 2 months.
