Pretoria - The process of fixing the sinkhole on the Ben Schoeman freeway, south of Jean Avenue in Centurion, has been completed, Gauteng Roads and Transport MEC Ismail Vadi announced on Thursday.
Speaking to SAnews during his visit to the site, Vadi said: “We’ve just completed fixing the sinkhole on the south of Jean Avenue. The surface of the sinkhole was about six metres, but underneath was almost up to 90 metres.
“If that entire area had sunk in, we would have had a disaster on our major highway, so we are very pleased that the project to fix the sinkhole has been fully [completed] and we are once again pleased that the traffic is now moving smoothly since we’ve also improved and widened the road.”
The sinkhole formed near the road in July 2012 as a result of a leak in a water pipe crossing the freeway.
Due to the close proximity of the sinkhole to the inner edges of the road and the subsidence of the road surface in the middle lane on the southbound carriageway, two of the southbound and one of the northbound lanes, as a precautionary measure, were closed.
However, in a bid to reduce the inconvenience caused by the lane closures, additional lanes were constructed on the outer shoulders of the slow lanes.
Representing the South African National Roads Agency Limited (Sanral), Ismail Essa, said: “We are satisfied with the work that has been done and now that the road has been improved, we want to urge motorists not to speed because having improved roads does not mean that one has the right to speed. People should adhere to the required speed limit.”
The project, which was supposed to have been completed in December last year, was mainly delayed by the rainy weather.
Budget Vote
Touching on the Budget Vote Speech, which he will deliver tomorrow at the Gauteng legislature, Vadi said the department has been allocated a budget of R4.7 billion this financial year.
“Almost 50 percent of this amount is conditional grants from the national Department of Transport to subsidise 34 bus contracts and to carry out provincial road maintenance as part of the S’hamba sonke programme,” he said.
The MEC said Gautrain has been allocated R801 million for its operational budget, while the Provincial Treasury has underwritten an additional amount of R623 million for the ridership guarantee.
Department’s achievements
Vadi said over the last few years, the cumulative achievements of his department have been significant, singling out the construction and full operation of the Gautrain.
The world class upgrading of 185km of the Gauteng Freeway system, in partnership with Sanral was also among the achievements.
“Some of our major achievements are the arterial routes such as Beyers Naude Drive, the R55 and portions of the R82 (Old Vereeniging Road), including the rehabilitation of the N1 and M1 freeways between Johannesburg and Pretoria,” he said.
The MEC further said his department will later this year launch the Gauteng Transport Commission (GTC) to better plan, co-ordinate and direct various programmes.
Vadi also announced that his department will release the 25-year Integrated Master Plan (ITMP25) for public comment in July, which will point out the strategic orientation of the department over the medium term. - SAnews.gov.za
