Repair work on damaged storm water pipe in Karkloof Road to begin soon

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23-09-2024
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The Witness
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The project, estimated to cost around R9 million, is expected to be completed in six months.

Repair work on the damaged corrugated metal storm water pipe in Karkloof Road, near Yard 41 in Howick, is expected to start soon.

A contractor was officially introduced to the Deputy Mayor of uMngeni Municipality, Sandile Mnikathi, and ward councillor Hazel Lake on Wednesday.

The project, estimated to cost around R9 million, is expected to be completed in six months.

The portion of Karkloof Road has been experiencing structural failure due to the collapsing storm water drain beneath it.

While uMngeni Municipality said its initial plan would’ve been faster and cheaper, various estates, homeowners’ associations and businesses in and around the affected area failed to come to an agreement with the municipality’s plan, which had considered costs, detours and the impact on residents, commuters and businesses.

The preferred option was to close the road temporarily for approximately three weeks, to excavate the old pipe, and diverting traffic via a short gravel detour that would run adjacent to the construction site.

Mnikathi said the contractor will replace the existing pipe with a concrete one by means of pipe jacking. Mnikathi and Lake said the municipality decided to use the pipe jacking method as it will cause the least disruptions possible.

They said the road will not be closed, however, there will be a stop and go system towards the end of the project. The Witness previously reported that Mayor Chris Pappas said the first months of the project would involve procurement of pipes and the rest would be for construction.

Pappas had said the municipality explored several methods, including pipe jacking, river deviation, and replacing the pipe with a culvert.

The municipality engaged with various estates, homeowners’ associations and businesses in and around the affected area to minimise costs and avoid extensive detours.

Some residents are, however, unhappy with the choice of pipe jacking because it will cost the municipality more money.

One of the homeowners along Karkloof Road, who asked not to be named, said he fully supported the municipality’s initial plan as it was effective and would’ve been completed in a few weeks.

“There are, however, people who were against the municipality’s initial plan not thinking about the future and financial constraints this will bring to the municipality. I hoped it would’ve been different, but the road has to be fixed one or the other,” the homeowner said.