Road passable again
PLETTENBERG BAY -
Repair of the Dieprivier Road in Plettenberg Bay (also known as the Rietvlei Road) has progressed above expectations, according to farmer André Claassen, one of six residents along the road which was affected by flooding.
Excessive rains and flooding saw six families as well as the Roots Primary School cut off from the normal use of the road for about two months. It was only passable by 4x4s. Claassen said in response to a report in Knysna-Plett Herald last week that the provincial roads department had pulled out all the stops to fit pipes to improve the water flow and raise the level of the road to make it passable.
He said he had sent the original email to Western Cape Premier Alan Winde, highlighting the problems residents face due to the recent excessive rains.
This followed communication with Bitou Mayor Dave Swart who indicated that the road did not fall under Bitou Muncipality's jurisdiction.
"When I sent the email, Mr Winde's office reacted immediately and I was soon thereafter contacted by the provincial Minister of Infrastructure's office who started the repair process," said Claassen.
He was full of praise for the chief engineer in Oudtshoorn's provincial roads department
who got the process moving forward and the team from the Garden Route provincial roads department who did the work.
"The necessary material and machines were procured. Unfortunately there were a few challenges with the supply of stones for the fill, caused by lapsed contracts that had to be renewed.
“Before work could be started we again had some heavy rains that delayed the process again," said Claassen.
After the water on the road
had subsided to such an extent that work could start again, the project moved forward, Claassen explained.
"The expectation is that the work will be completed by the end of this week.
I wish to emphasise that Bitou Municipality was not involved, but that provincial officials performed their duties admirably." He said the solution found for the road, laying pipes and raising the level of the road, "looks to me like a permanent solution".