Work is underway on the Berlin to Tshabo dirt road where piles of gravel were stacked alongside the barely passable dirt road for more than eight months.
The work follows a report in the Daily Dispatch last week about complaints from residents on how congested the road was due to the piles on the side of the road, hindering traffic and pedestrians.
Department of public works spokesman Mphumzi Zuzile yesterday said that a new contractor had been assigned to complete re-gravelling the stretch of road after the first contractor exhausted their budget.
“We have a number of companies that have contracts with us and each have different budgets depending on where they will be working.
“That road was not part of the budget for this financial year, although the contractor had pursued it.”
Zuzile said the road was merely being regravelled and not tarred because roads leading to hospitals, tourism destinations and clinics took first priority.
“We have a responsibility to fix all roads and that is what we do when machinery and funding is readily available.”
Zuzile said the department had a backlog of about 67000km of roads that needed to be attended to with a budget of only R4.5-billion allocated to the department.
“Only R1.9-billion goes towards the roads because of other expenses the department also has to cover. If we could get a budget of R102-billion, within two years every gravel road could be tarred in the province.”
Dongwe resident and taxi driver Mncekeleli Senze said they were concerned when nothing was being done on the road which he travels daily. “There no way two cars can travel at the same time. has to wait and give the other right of way.”
Senze said taxis and other cars often broke down due to the poor state of the road.
Vuyokazi Senti, who lives nearby, said: “After heavy rains it can take up to a month before the water dries up.”
The mother of five said she was concerned about her children drowning in pools of water after rainy days.
“When we walk to town and there are cars coming from behind and ahead there is nowhere to run because piles of rocks and gravel take up most of the road.”
Another driver, Yanga Ntwanambi, said he had cracked his exhaust. “It’s been nearly a year and nothing had happened since the gravel was placed alongside the road. I’m glad something is finally being done.”
Danger road finally to be fixed
The work follows a report in the Daily Dispatch last week about complaints from residents on how congested the road was due to the piles on the side of the road, hindering traffic and pedestrians.
Department of public works spokesman Mphumzi Zuzile yesterday said that a new contractor had been assigned to complete re-gravelling the stretch of road after the first contractor exhausted their budget.
“We have a number of companies that have contracts with us and each have different budgets depending on where they will be working.
“That road was not part of the budget for this financial year, although the contractor had pursued it.”
Zuzile said the road was merely being regravelled and not tarred because roads leading to hospitals, tourism destinations and clinics took first priority.
“We have a responsibility to fix all roads and that is what we do when machinery and funding is readily available.”
Zuzile said the department had a backlog of about 67000km of roads that needed to be attended to with a budget of only R4.5-billion allocated to the department.
“Only R1.9-billion goes towards the roads because of other expenses the department also has to cover. If we could get a budget of R102-billion, within two years every gravel road could be tarred in the province.”
Dongwe resident and taxi driver Mncekeleli Senze said they were concerned when nothing was being done on the road which he travels daily. “There no way two cars can travel at the same time. has to wait and give the other right of way.”
Senze said taxis and other cars often broke down due to the poor state of the road.
Vuyokazi Senti, who lives nearby, said: “After heavy rains it can take up to a month before the water dries up.”
The mother of five said she was concerned about her children drowning in pools of water after rainy days.
“When we walk to town and there are cars coming from behind and ahead there is nowhere to run because piles of rocks and gravel take up most of the road.”
Another driver, Yanga Ntwanambi, said he had cracked his exhaust. “It’s been nearly a year and nothing had happened since the gravel was placed alongside the road. I’m glad something is finally being done.”
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