GCC begins to repair damaged roads

OLIVER MODISE
Staff Writer | Friday February 8, 2008 00:00

An 'action plan' from city engineer Komal Chandra Jain's office, shows a list of roads the council is repairing.

'We are busy filling the potholes and following up the director of roads for the maintenance of the bigger roads,' confirmed Jain in an interview yesterday.

Some of the city's roads were built 15 to 30 years ago without adequate provision of storm water drainage. It has been confirmed that many have not been refurbished to meet modern traffic requirements. Last month torrential rainfall, floods and soil erosion caused huge potholes and depressions on most of the roads in the city.

According to the city council, all storm water drainage systems along roads are being repaired to ensure that they are unblocked and cleaned. The council has already procured bituminous patching material for the ongoing maintenance on the potholes.

It is stated that the potholes on the country's ruined tarred roads are being filled with gravel. On the other hand the council has moved to grade and regrade some gravel and earth roads following numerous complains by motorists.

Within the city boundary, GCC has 500km of tarred roads, about 200km of gravel and 100km of earth roads. A tender for the upgrading of Nyerere Drive and North Ring is already being evaluated with work expected to start by the next financial year.

Council has planned for the upgrading of Segoditshane North Road in Ledumang area and the area network around Ledumang along with the Tsholofelo Infrastructure Project.

Tenders for upgrading of infrastructure and roads at Old Naledi are reported to be at the evaluation stage.

The director of roads maintains the Western Bypass, Tlokweng Road, Samora Machel Road, Mandela Drive and the Old Lobatse Road. Jain told Mmegi that the director of roads has invited tenders for the upgrading of Mobutu Drive, Tlokweng and Machel roads.

GCC has also announced that tenders are being invited for a consultancy on the upgrading of non-motorised transport. However, the city engineer has indicated that the GCC has inadequate funds though most of the roads need to be completely demolished and reconstructed to higher standards.

While some of the roads are earmarked for repair and reconstruction, the council states that a number of SHHA roads are planned for upgrading in the 2008/2009 programme.