Roads must be dry to repair potholes effectively – metro

Road surfaces need to be completely dry to ensure that pothole repairs are effective and long-lasting, according to the metro.

This comes after recent heavy rains caused delays in repairing and patching existing and newly increased potholes across all seven regions of Tshwane.

MMC for Roads and Transport Tlangi Mogale explained recently that the drying process requires 24 to 72 hours of no rain or moisture.

She said the metro currently does not have drying or heating equipment to speed up the process.

In turn, this has caused a massive backlog of repairs that has left many road users frustrated.

Despite the setbacks, Mogale highlighted the progress made by the current administration in tackling potholes.

“To date, we have repaired 687 potholes and achieved a 99% reduction from an initial backlog of 692.

“This demonstrates our commitment to addressing the issue head-on,” she said.

Mogale also assured residents that the city remains committed to addressing the growing backlog.

“We are confident in our ability to address the new potholes caused by the rain, but we ask residents to remain patient as we work to reduce the growing backlog,” she said.

Another concern for the metro is the potential disruption in the supply of raw materials for repairs.

“Our engineers are monitoring the quarry where asphalt is produced, as persistent rain could impact production of raw material.”

The MMC emphasised that the city aims to resume full-scale maintenance and repairs by March 3, provided the weather improves.

“Residents will be kept informed of developments,” she said.

Mogale has also called for community co-operation during this period.

“The city declares war on potholes, and we urge residents to report the potholes while we prepare to roll out an accelerated repair programme.”

Residents are encouraged to report any pothole issues on 012 358 9999, 080 111 1556 or via email at [email protected].

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