Residents remain on edge as repair on Coleraine Drive offers only temporary relief

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26-02-2025
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Sandton Chronicle
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Although the hole caused by a burst pipe on Coleraine Drive in Riverclub has been filled, concerns about road stability and safety persist as residents fear potential collapse during rainstorms.

As South Africa’s summer rains continue to pour, residents of Coleraine Drive in Riverclub remain apprehensive about the safety of their road, following the repairs to a dangerously large hole created by a burst water pipe.

Although Johannesburg Water (JW) has filled the hole with soil excavated from the site, concerns about the road’s integrity have not dissipated.

Lynn Fiser, a resident who initially raised alarms about the hazard, expressed her mixed feelings about the recent developments.

“While the road is now filled with soil, which makes it safer to drive on and improves visibility for traffic, the underlying asphalt is severely compromised. The soil washes away every time it rains, and I’m genuinely worried that this section of the road will soon collapse completely,” she said.

JW spokesperson Puleng Mopeli acknowledged the risks associated with the compromised road surface.

“Given the resident’s concern, and the visual evidence of potential road collapse due to soil erosion, we are taking this matter seriously. We have escalated the concern to Johannesburg Roads Agency (JRA) and will collaborate with them to ensure the safety of motorists and pedestrians,” Mopeli said.

Mopeli confirmed that the wayleave number for the issue is 405239263, and the curbs reference number is 405239266.

She said the onus is now on JRA to manage the asphalt work. “JRA is the appropriate point of contact for ongoing road stability assessments, as we have handed over responsibility for repairing the compromised road surface,” she added.

When asked about the monitoring plan to observe the road surface for further subsidence or cracking, Mopeli highlighted that shared communication is critical in these situations.

“Our usual practice involves issuing formal notices in cases where there’s a water supply interruption. We will make sure the residents, including those on Coleraine Drive, are informed about the assessment findings and proposed repair plans,” she ensured.

JRA regional operations HOD Khayalethu Gqibitole said: “Permanent repair work will resume on [February 24], and completion timelines will be informed by ground conditions on site, this will therefore only be established once the repair work resumes.”