Anger over Kenville Road closure

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14-02-2024
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Northglen News
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In December last year, the City took the decision to close a section of the road near the collapse, however, those barriers were removed.

THE continued deterioration of a section of Kenville Road that collapsed in March last year has led to residents’ frustrations boiling over.

Heavy rains, as well as heavy-duty vehicles accessing the residential road, have impacted the road surface with some residents fearing a total collapse.

In December last year, the City took the decision to close the road near the damaged section from both sides by placing cement barriers on either end.

However, those barriers were removed, and it has, again, led to motorists driving on a makeshift road made up of rubble that has been compacted.

It is unclear who removed the barriers, but Anil Beekrum, chairperson for Kenville and Sea Cow Lake Residents’ and Ratepayers’ Association, has urged residents to exercise patience while repairs continue.

“I understand the residents’ frustration as they’ve dealt with road closures for several years with Kew Road and the construction of the bridge on the lower end of Kenville Road. This collapse has definitely impacted residents in that they have to add extra kilometres every day to their routes just to go less than a kilometre. With the school and several residential homes, the closure was impacting them.

“While I acknowledge the inconvenience caused, I would advise residents who removed the barriers not to do so as they may be fined or charged by the eThekwini Municipality. The company adjacent to the road is building a retaining wall in order to prevent any future collapses, and then the project will move towards reinstating the road. In the meantime, someone has offered to compact the makeshift road to allow residents access to the lower end of Kenville Road,” he said.

Meanwhile, City spokesperson Mandla Nsele said the eThekwini Municipality was aware that residents had reopened the road.

“It became evident that the concrete barriers were moved. We will realign them back into place to close the road again. It must be noted that the developer will require access to the closed portion of the road to carry out remedial work. The road has been barricaded, and signs have been erected. No timeframe has been given as to when the repairs will be carried out, but work is underway.

“The road cannot be built until the retaining wall has been completed and the section between the failed roadway and the wall has been backfilled and compacted to road level, which is currently underway. The developer has appointed a specialist who will be liaising with the Roads Department regarding the required construction standards and methodology. Repair costs are to the developer’s account. Once the embankment support is complete, what is left of the existing road will be excavated and removed, and new layer works and asphalt surfacing, followed by lane marking, will be done,” Nsele said.

He added that timeframes on the road’s reinstatement depended on the developer.