Slow but visible repair progress on sinking Hampton Road in Glen Austin

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10-11-2025
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Midrand Reporter
Source

After years of sinking surfaces and uneven road levels, Hampton Road in Glen Austin is finally seeing initial repair action, though some say the real test will be whether the fix lasts.

Work to repair the long-sinking section of Hampton Road, in Glen Austin, appears to have begun, with sand recently laid to stabilise the collapsed section at the corner of George and Hampton roads.

While residents welcomed the activity, some say a more thorough, long-term fix is still needed, as uneven gradients and dip-humps continue to make the route difficult to navigate.

The affected section of roadway has been a persistent concern since the installation of a Rand Water pipeline in 2020. Soon after the project was completed, road surfaces, in parts of Hampton, Milner, George, and Dale roads, began to sink and crack, resulting in poor drainage, flooding during rainfall, and growing frustration for motorists and property owners.

In late October this year, Johannesburg Roads Agency (JRA) regional operations head Khayalethu Gqibitole confirmed that the agency had signed a service-level agreement with Rand Water to carry out reinstatement work on damaged roads linked to the pipeline installation.

Glen Austin residents hopeful as first signs of repair appear on the corner of Hampton and George roads. Photo: Comfort Makhanya

“We have just finalised a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Rand Water for JRA to do tar reinstatements on their behalf.

The MoU is South Africa-wide, and Hampton Road will be one of two roads to be fixed under it. We will advise on delivery dates once the MoU is ready to be operational.”

According to Gqibitole, a JRA assessment found that the road failures were likely caused by inadequate compaction of soil layers during the pipeline works, which led to sinkage over time and structural instability in the affected areas.

Resident Mike Wiggill said the latest activity suggests that the underlying cause may now finally be addressed.

“It appears that the entities have done something regarding the leaking underground water that was causing the road to collapse at the intersection of George and Hampton roads.

Now, we just wait for them to repair the road properly and get rid of the dip-hump.”