Residents and motorists frustrated as Ekurhuleni City closes Nicol Road – Who’s to blame for funding shortfall?

The closure of Nicol Road in the City of Ekurhuleni has caused frustration among residents and motorists due to the lack of funding for the necessary repairs. According to CoE spokesperson Zweli Dlamini, the ageing stormwater system pipes collapsed, disjointed, and sagged due to insufficient intake capacity. The City will rehabilitate the system when funds are available for the purpose. However, the City faces increasing public needs while funds are limited.

Ward 20 Clr Jill Humphreys had previously stated that closing the road was the only option as the metro has been unable to affect the necessary repairs to the culvert in the interest of safety. Meanwhile, the civil group Better Bedfordview has called on residents to be more active and vocal, citing how the City has dealt with the matter as “quite abysmal”. The group’s Marina Constas said that their councillor had sent emails to relevant departments without any feedback for months. The organisation calls on residents who are fed up with this situation to contact the city manager, as they pay massive amounts of money through their rates and taxes.

The City has advised residents to use van Buuren, Kloof, and Boeing West Road as alternative routes.

Source: Update: City responds to the closure of Nicol Road

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Picture: Twitter / Vendaeyewitness