No budget to fix all crumbling Joburg bridges, says JRA
The Johannesburg Road Agency has allocated R89 million for bridge repairs, including the recently completed Maphumulo Bridge in Soweto and the Kilburn Street Bridge.
The JRA recently revealed that 80% of bridges in the city are on the verge of collapse.
The road agency says bridge upgrades are prioritised according to the extent of the damage and level of risk to road users.
Bridges that were not allocated budget in the current financial year will be addressed in the coming financial years.
The JRA’s Head of Department for Infrastructure Planning, Musa Mkhacane, said most of the bridges were damaged by recent floods, which led to the collapse of critical infrastructure such as stormwater culverts and embankment erosions.
“The City of Johannesburg is over 150 years old. Some of its road infrastructure, ranging from bridge structures to stormwater systems, was not designed to accommodate the levels of traffic and extreme weather conditions we experience today,” Mkhacane explained.
“Stormwater and culvert systems were designed to capacitate a 1 in 100-year flood event and others a 1 in 25-year flood event.”
Mkhacane said the JRA will be doing maintenance in preparation for the rainy season.
This includes cleaning bridges and culverts, desilting streams, clearing overgrown vegetation, and removing litter and debris upstream close to bridges and culvert structures to minimise flooding, bridge overtopping, and damage to infrastructure.
At the same time, Mkhacane warned that not all the city’s bridges can be fixed through maintenance.
Some bridges need structural rehabilitation, which can only be implemented if a budget is available.
“Eleven bridges have been identified to require urgent rehabilitation at a total cost of R240 million,” said Mkhacane.
“While assessments and designs have been completed for these, there isn’t a budget available for them.
“The JRA only has R89 million in this current financial year to undertake repairs of bridges such as the Modderfontein Dual Carriageway, Buccleuch Low-Lying Bridge, Mzimhlophe Bridge in Soweto and Canterbury Drive.”
Four bridges are currently closed for safety.
“Pierre Road Bridge in Roodepoort, Bridge Road in Buccleuch, West Road in Greymont, Sjampanje Street in Wilgeheuwel, and Platina Road in Jukskei Park are closed and awaiting finalisation of design and budget to rehabilitate, whilst 23 are at risk of being closed depending on further deterioration that may happen over time,” explained Mkhacane.
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