Bridges in poor conditions; 11 awaiting budget for repairs

Tags

---

06-11-2024
Read : 29 times
Roodepoort Record
Source

The Johannesburg Road Agency (JRA) highlights bridges in Region C that are classified in "very poor" conditions.

A staggering 79% of the City of Johannesburg bridges are categorised in “poor” or “very poor” conditions, according to the Johannesburg Road Agency’s (JRA) recent Visual Conditions Assessment (VCI).

Some bridges require minor work to reinforce the bridge’s structural integrity, while 16% of the total bridge structures require major rehabilitation work, and five bridges currently have been closed off.

Roodepoort Region C alone has about eight bridges that are classified in poor condition according to the VCI.

According to the head of the Department for Infrastructure Planning, Musa Mkhacane, the city’s infrastructure is old and was not initially designed to accommodate the levels of traffic and extreme weather experienced nowadays.

“This means that some bridges cannot be addressed through maintenance and would need major works such as reconstruction. Limited budget is one of the major challenges the JRA encounters in implementing critical road projects. Additionally, theft and vandalism of road infrastructure along bridges impede our efforts to provide safe and accessible bridges and roads,” says Mkhacane.

Mkhacane says motorists should not be alarmed as bridges that are currently open are not in imminent danger of collapse.

Bridges in Region C that are classified in poor condition are:

1. Highway Street in Florida: Floods caused the overtopping of this bridge and embankment erosion on the exit side, and the walkway collapsed, posing a safety hazard to pedestrians.

2. Main Reef Road bridge: The embankment has eroded on the exit side of the culvert. The current stormwater catchment is not efficient.

3. Progress Road bridge in Groblers Park: Flood damage causes overtopping on the culvert and severe erosion at the embankment.

4. Hercules Close bridge in Helderkruin: A collapsed embankment is currently affecting a lot of motorists residing at a nearby complex.

5. Pierre Road culvert and bridge in Ruimsig: The bridge between Short and Alec roads was deemed unsafe by JRA in 2018 and was supposed to be repaired in 2023.

6. Sjampanje Street Bridge: (between Lubbe Rouge and Cabernet Streets) in Wilgeheuwel, the bridge remains closed off to traffic following a culvert collapse and erosions downstream.

A resident who lives in a complex on Hercules Close, Frik Momberg, says he would rate the bridge a one out of 10 due to its current status.

“On the top of the bridge, less than half of the bridge is left. Another big storm and it will be very difficult to cross, leaving 60 residents with no way to get into the complex,” he says.

Mkhacane says designs and rehabilitation plans have been completed for 11 bridges that are awaiting budget for repairs.