REPUBLIC ROAD UNDERGOING MAINTENANCE

Starting today the 14th of January 2020 until around Valentine’s Day, Republic Road will undergo Provincial Road Maintenance Program starting at the Busy Corner traffic lights until Thuthukani traffic lights.

Republic Road is the main road in KAE which seperates Ivory Park and Ebony Park. The road is a provincial road and has not been maintained for a very long time.

It took the Economic Freedom Fighter’s (EFF) John Mnisi to request the Gauteng Department of Public Transport and Roads Infrastructure to intervene. Mnisi is an Ebony Park resident and is a former EFF Councilor Candidate for Ward 111. He is currently a PR Councilor. A PR Councilor is elected by proportional representation process based on the number of votes a political party receives. Mnisi is a PR Councilor in the City of Johannesburg Council.

The road has been a source of many accidents and is in a bad state. It is littered with potholes and has a running sewage. Vehicles frequently get punctures on the road.

Furthermore, the driveway to the Busy Corner Mall was illegally built. According to Mnisi the driveway which connects to the Republic Road was built without the Province’s knowledge. The Department will investigate how this happened.

The 1 month project by the Road Infrastructure Department will look into installing pedestrian crossing and humps on Republic Road. A reduced speed limit road sign will also be installed to accommodate and protect shoppers going to the Busy Corner Mall from Ivory Park.

During this time, a single lane will be opened on the road and it will be a stop and go process while the road is being maintained. The Ivory Park Taxi Association has been accordingly informed.

“Safety of our community is important because vehicles get punctures on this road especially taxis which ferry passengers. To prevent injuries and unnecessary loss of life it is important that we fix this road for our community. People also get robbed when fixing tyres at night.” said Clr Mnisi.

Expect delays until the project is complete.

Meanwhile, the Johannesburg Roads Agency (JRA) is currently busy with road markings in Ebony Park. The agency painted road markings in Acasia Street (Lifestyle Street) today. The potholes in Ebony Park Extension (near Triple Garage) are also being attended to.