POTHOLE repairs are set to be accelerated across the Kouga region after heavy rains caused extensive damage to roads.
Kouga Infrastructure and Engineering Portfolio Councillor, Bryan Dhludhlu, said the municipality would be suspending its road resealing programme to prioritise pothole repairs over the next few months.
“This will allow us to push more money and labour into fixing potholes,” he said.
“Our roads took a heavy beating in the recent rains and fixing the damage is now the priority.”
He said the resealing contractor would assist with the repairs and that additional workers were being trained through the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) to add muscle to the municipality’s pothole teams.
“The EPWP workers have already started fixing potholes as part of their training, but conditions are still wet and not ideal for repairs.
“The bulk of the work will, therefore, get under way as soon as the roads have dried out sufficiently,” he said.
He said upgrading the region’s road infrastructure would be an ongoing focus.
“R25 million has been spent on the resealing of roads over the past year and almost 15 000 potholes were repaired.
“The backlog in road maintenance is, however, immense after years of neglect by the previous Councils. It is estimated that at least R500 million is needed to get all roads up to standard.”
He said despite the recent rain damage, steady progress was being made to slay the road giant.
“Two gravel roads in Humansdorp, Nerina and Felix, were also tarred earlier this year and an additional R8 million has been budgeted to upgrade more gravel roads in the coming year.”
