Joburg to sink R88 million into pothole repairs

Johannesburg mayor Herman Mashaba yesterday launched a R88 million project to address the pothole repair backlog in the city.

Addressing the launch in Ivory Park, Midrand, Mashaba said the city had provided R88 million additional funding to the Johannesburg Roads Agency (JRA) in the 2016-17 adjustment budget.

At least R60 million would be for materials and equipment for pothole repairs, while R28 million would address the 40% staff shortage in maintenance teams.

Mashaba said the JRA was working on improving the turnaround time for the repair of potholes as the time taken to fix them did not meet residents’ demand for a professional public service.

“Together with JRA, we are committed to improving mobility within the city, through the provision of safe roads and infrastructure network,” Mashaba said.

“As part of this exercise, a citywide inspection will be carried out in accordance with the use of JRA’s VCI criteria, every two years, to enable the scientific prioritisation of roads for reconstruction and resurfacing.”

JRA is responsible for a total of 13 428km of roads. There is an estimated R3.5 billion backlog for road surfacing and R2.3 billion backlog for roads reconstruction.

Mashaba said as an interim solution, roads that have deteriorated, but do not meet the VCI criteria for prioritisation within the available funding, would undergo routine maintenance.

This would include pothole repairs and deep patching where possible, until roads are scheduled and budgeted for resurfacing or reconstruction.

Mashaba said he has initiated a programme of tarring roads in impoverished areas like Doornkop, Lawley, Mayibuye, Tshepisong, Protea South and Ivory Park.

“Road infrastructure is a way for people to access jobs, a way for businesses to access markets and a way we create connected and integrated communities,” Mashaba said. – ANA