Asphalt shortage reason for delay

Rehabilitation of several streets in Louis Trichardt’s residential area is underway. The asphalt shortage in the country is said to have contributed to the delay in the completion of the street rehabilitation project, which commenced last year.

Roadworks in Munnik Street are in full swing, with Stubbs Street soon to follow.

The rehabilitation of Munnik Street started  on 13 February.

“The planned time for completion is 2 March this year, weather permitting,” the spokesperson of the Makhado Municipality, Mr Louis Bobodi, said last week. 

“The roadbed and selected layers have been completed. The stabilization of the sub-base is in process, and the stabilization of the base and the kerbing are still outstanding,” Bobodi said, referring to Munnik Street.

Notice was given by the municipality that the rehabilitation of Stubbs Street, between Krogh and Burger Street, would commence on 24 February. It will probably commence two weeks later, since the contractor is still busy in Munnik Street.

“We advise motorists to be patient and drive with care and adhere to road signs as only one lane of Stubbs Street will be in operation at a time,” Bobodi said.

The contractor  responsible for Munnik Street is Fantique Trade from Polokwane. Though very inconvenient for the residents of the street, road users remarked that the roadworks seemed to progress rapidly. Fantique Trade will also be responsible for the rehabilation of  the part of Stubbs Street between Krogh and Burger Streets.

“Why can the road be excavated and the subbase be prepared so fast, while it literally took months in Anderson Street and the road is still not done?” is a question posed by residents.

Interestingly, the same company, Fantique Trade, was also responsible for Anderson Street.

“Anderson could have been completed long ago, if the supply of asphalt in the country had not come to a halt. The problem occurred in September last year. It has not been sorted out, but we have been waiting in the queue and have been allocated material,” said Fantique’s Project Manager on Tuesday. Fortunately they have material to tar Anderson, as well as Munnik and Stubbs Street. Road surfacing of both Anderson and Munnik is expected to commence by the end of next week.

As recently as February it was reported that the country was still experiencing an acute shortage of bitumen, made from crude oil and used to produce asphalt, which is used in road construction. There are problems in Durban where the bulk of South Africa’s crude oil imports are offloaded. Maintenance complications at refineries are seen as the main cause of the shortage of bitumen (www.sabita.co.za).

In the meantime, workers of the Blue Dot Company were busy with the kerbing in Anderson Street. “The base in Anderson Street already looks as if it needs to be redone,” remarked a resident on Monday.

Bobodi confirmed that there quality control of the work in Anderson Street had been done. “Yes , it was checked and it was good,” Bobodi said.

News - Date: 05 March 2012

Linda van der Westhuizen

Linda van der Westhuizen has been with Zoutnet since 2001. She has a heart for God, people and their stories. Linda believes that every person is unique and has a special story to tell. It follows logically that human interest stories is her speciality. Linda finds working with people and their leaders in the economic, educational, spiritual and political arena very rewarding. “I have a special interest in what God is doing in our town, province and nation and what He wants us to become,” says Linda.

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