Wierda Road set to reopen soon

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22-09-2023
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Pretoria Rekord
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The Gauteng Department of Roads and Transport says it will continue with the remedial work of the sinkhole.

The M10 Wierda Road in Centurion is set to reopen by the first week of October, almost a year after it was closed due to a sinkhole.

The road, which serves as a vital arterial route connecting the western suburbs with the Centurion CBD, N14, and N1 highways, had been closed since November 13 last year.

High rain volumes last year led to the formation of a large sinkhole along the stormwater canal, affecting many residents and local businesses.

The Wierda Road reopening has been made possible through a collaborative effort between the Gauteng Roads and Transport Department (GPDRT), AfriForum, local business owners, private contractors and service providers.

“The department will continue with the remedial work of the sinkhole,” the department said in a response to Rekord’s enquiry.

The road was made fit for motorists to use, while the sinkhole would be addressed in the future. Image provided / Ina Strijdom

It said the road is expected to open the first week of October.

“The Department of Roads and Transport prioritises all the provincial road projects as part of promoting efficient accessibility and smart mobility, as well as road safety.”

Concerned business owners from Lots of Pots, Sasol Lyttelton Manor, Royal Elephant Hotel, and the KappiChino coffee bar sought help from AfriForum when the road closure began severely affecting their businesses.

AfriForum’s private prosecution unit said in a statement it had written a letter to Gauteng MEC for Roads and Transport, Kedibone Diale-Tlabela, highlighting the dire situation.

This led to meetings with Adv. Gerrie Nel, head of AfriForum’s private prosecution unit with government representatives, including deputy director general for roads and transport, Mmaphuti Mokobane and senior department members.

Nel expressed appreciation for the government’s willingness to engage constructively, saying, “Opportunities to commend the government do not come often, but we commend Mokobane and his team. We hope that the success has impressed on all the realisation of the effect of open engagement and commitment to solving infrastructure problems.

“We hope the success has impressed on all the realisation of the effect of open engagement and commitment to solving infrastructure problems,” he added.

Business owner Pieter Smith said the road closure had affected business.

“Due to Lots of Pots’ location, our business was severely impacted due to the road closure in November 2022,” he said.

“We have lost many customers due to the detour they have to take to get to our business and it will take a lot of effort, time and financial resources to get them back.

“Lots of Pots is very grateful for the cooperation and commitment we had from authorities and other stakeholders regarding the repair of Wierda Road,” said Smith.

Ward 66 councillor Ina Strijdom said she was pleased the road would open soon, as it had had a detrimental impact on traffic in the area.

Strijdom said the solution focused on the road surface, while the sinkhole would be repaired at a later date.

“I was assured the compaction was done well and the stormwater canal, which was the cause of the sinkhole, is now built property and would no longer be a problem,” she told Rekord.

“I would like to thank residents like Pieter from Lots of Pots, as well as AfriForum for their assistance in speeding up the repairs.”