A large pool of sewage has accumulated in Burman Road where it is breaking up the road and causing a traffic hazard.
The effluent has been there for at least three weeks and hazard warnings erected by the metro have been smashed down by night-time truck traffic, creating a dangerous situation, businesses have warned.
Municipal spokesperson Mthubanzi Mniki said they were aware of the situation but “it will still take a while” before the repairs are completed.
Express Petroleum general manager Zarrin Zehmke said the problem was getting increasingly worse.
“There are now two large potholes caused by the stuff welling up through the tar.
“There’s no ways an ordinary sedan could get through there and even the bakkies and trucks prefer to swerve out into incoming traffic to avoid them.
“This is a busy arterial road with lots of trucks so it’s extremely hazardous.
“We’re really hoping the problem can be fixed before there’s a major accident.”
On Friday, the foul-smelling pool had spread into the yards of businesses on the corner of Burman Road and Adolf Street.
An angry businesswoman, who asked not to be named, said the matter had been reported several times to the metro and a team had eventually arrived but had simply dumped sand on it, which had not solved the problem.
On Tuesday morning, the pool had dwindled slightly, to about 30m along the west lane in Burman on either side of Adolf, but with a slow plume of sewage still welling up in the middle of it.
On the south side of the pool, there were two deep jagged potholes, a mass of gungy sand and a jumble of yellow plastic, apparently left behind by the metro.
Engineer Mark Jeffrey said Burman was an important conduit.
“There are a lot of people who work in Deal Party even at night who use it, and residents and taxis use [it] to get to and from New Brighton. It’s also an alternative route to Uitenhage.
“They did put barriers up but they were smashed down — I’m sure by accident — by night-time trucks.
“Burman is not a well-lit road and there are no flashing lights that have been erected, so it is a hazard.
“I saw a truck stopped in the middle of the pool and it might have just stalled but it quite possibly burst a tyre in one of the potholes.
“The site is inadequately marked off to warn people,” he said.
Sewage and potholes cause traffic hazard in Deal Party
Image: GUY ROGERS
A large pool of sewage has accumulated in Burman Road where it is breaking up the road and causing a traffic hazard.
The effluent has been there for at least three weeks and hazard warnings erected by the metro have been smashed down by night-time truck traffic, creating a dangerous situation, businesses have warned.
Municipal spokesperson Mthubanzi Mniki said they were aware of the situation but “it will still take a while” before the repairs are completed.
Express Petroleum general manager Zarrin Zehmke said the problem was getting increasingly worse.
“There are now two large potholes caused by the stuff welling up through the tar.
“There’s no ways an ordinary sedan could get through there and even the bakkies and trucks prefer to swerve out into incoming traffic to avoid them.
“This is a busy arterial road with lots of trucks so it’s extremely hazardous.
“We’re really hoping the problem can be fixed before there’s a major accident.”
On Friday, the foul-smelling pool had spread into the yards of businesses on the corner of Burman Road and Adolf Street.
An angry businesswoman, who asked not to be named, said the matter had been reported several times to the metro and a team had eventually arrived but had simply dumped sand on it, which had not solved the problem.
On Tuesday morning, the pool had dwindled slightly, to about 30m along the west lane in Burman on either side of Adolf, but with a slow plume of sewage still welling up in the middle of it.
On the south side of the pool, there were two deep jagged potholes, a mass of gungy sand and a jumble of yellow plastic, apparently left behind by the metro.
Engineer Mark Jeffrey said Burman was an important conduit.
“There are a lot of people who work in Deal Party even at night who use it, and residents and taxis use [it] to get to and from New Brighton. It’s also an alternative route to Uitenhage.
“They did put barriers up but they were smashed down — I’m sure by accident — by night-time trucks.
“Burman is not a well-lit road and there are no flashing lights that have been erected, so it is a hazard.
“I saw a truck stopped in the middle of the pool and it might have just stalled but it quite possibly burst a tyre in one of the potholes.
“The site is inadequately marked off to warn people,” he said.
Image: EUGENE COETZEE
Engen Oil Centre owner Nigel Fox said the matter had been reported to the metro.
“Three weeks ago one of my tanker drivers saw there was a hazard and put down a cone.
“A lady driver nevertheless went into the one pothole and damaged her car and I know she phoned the municipality to complain.
“It’s obviously happened to several motorists because there are broken bits from cars lying around.
“It’s a highly dangerous situation.”
Image: EUGENE COETZEE
Mniki said the problem stemmed from a blockage which they were working to fix.
“The blockage was caused by sand that was washed into the sewer.
“The team has been on site bypass-pumping to limit the spillage. We have put up barricades but these have been damaged by drivers.
“It will still take a while because the large sewer — 800mm in diameter — is now badly silted.
“No drinking water is being lost.”
Would you like to comment on this article?
Register (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Latest Videos
Most Read
News
News
News
News
News