against potholes
1 March 2007
The fact that a mere two pothole cases were reported to our client centre
during the month of February 2007 (against the 97 complaints during November
2006) is probably an indication of the success since the kick-off of "Operation
Pothole" at the beginning of November 2006 � despite the fact that we were
hampered by some heavy rainfalls and extremely heavy traffic.
There are, however, a few isolated cases which remain a headache:
* Addo road in the Cacadu region.
* Route R61 (Bizana) in the O R Tambo region
* a section of Route R396 between Queenstown and Lady Frere in the Chris Hani
region.
* sections of the coastal road (R72), the Mount Coke Road, as well as some
roads leading to the East Coast resorts in the Amathole region.
Achievements during the month of February 2007 can be summarised as
follows:
Cacadu Region: Potholes in the order of 305 metre square were repaired on
the Addo Road. Further repairs are still in progress. In and around Port
Elizabeth, another 150 metre square potholes were fixed and on the Seaview Road
27 200 metre square of slurry works were completed. An amount of R404 300 was
spent.
Amathole Region: A contract to the amount of R171 000 has been issued on the
coastal road (Route R72) between the Peddie junction and through the Keiskamma
Pass. On another section of the R72 (Airport to Kidds Beach), 268 metre square
of potholes were repaired. Repairs have been completed on the road to Glen Eden
and pothole repairs on the road to Kwelera Mouth are currently in progress.
Ukhahlamba Region: A R2 million contract has just been completed on roads
around Venterstad, Steynsburg and Burgersdorp, totalling +/- 2 400 metre
square. Further patching and repairs will be done to these roads, as well as
the road to Sterkspruit and Barkley East to Elliot at a cost of +/-
R3million.
Chris Hani Region: Patching and repair of +/- 3100 metre square of route
R397 (Sterkstroom � Molteno) has been completed.
O R Tambo Region: Pothole patching on route R61 (Magusheni�Bizana�Port
Edward) is ongoing. An area of 731 metre square has been attended to.
Priorities for 2007/08:
Cacadu Region: The department will mainly concentrate on the Addo road, the
15 kilometre section of the R72 beyond Ncanarha and some roads in and around
the Nelson Mandela Metropole.
Amathole Region: The coming year will see the department continue to
concentrate on sections of the Coastal road (R72), the Mount Coke Road and
roads leading to the East Coast resorts.
Chris Hani Region: Work on route R397 (Sterkstroom�Molteno) will continue,
with further emphasis on the roads from Queenstown to Whittlesea and Lady
Frere. Roads around Dodrecht, Indwe, Elliot and Ugie will be attended to at the
same time.
Ukhahlamba Region: Finishing off of the current contract on roads around
Venterstad, Burgersdorp and Steynsburg, being followed up with a further
contract of R4,7 million.
O R Tambo Region: A permanent contractor has been established on the R61
(Magusheni�Bizana�Port Edward). Attention will be given to the section of road
between Lusikisiki and Flagstaff. Another focus area will be the road to Coffee
Bay.
It remains the department's intention to persevere in its endeavour to keep
our tar roads "pothole free" as soon as possible. We will continue with our
service to the road users of the province, through the toll-free number 0800
644 644. The line is open daily from 06h00 to 22h00. After 22h00 an alternative
number will be given through a voice recorded message.
Enquiries:
Ncedo Kumbaca
Spokesperson
Cell: 082 442 2388
Issued by: Department of Safety, Liaison, Roads and Transport, Eastern Cape
Provincial Government
1 March 2007
