N West pothole count at 5 648

2010-03-15 22:28

Linda de Beer, Beeld

Potchefstroom - There are officially 5 648 potholes in the North-West's Dr Kenneth Kaunda district - and 2 500 of these are on the road between Wolmaransstad and Schweizer-Reneke.

North-West's department of public works, roads and transport provided a survey of all the potholes in this district.

The district includes Potchefstroom, Klerksdorp, Ventersdorp, Wolmaransstad, Orkney and Leeudoringstad.

The 150 potholes between Potchefstroom and Vanderbijlpark are a nightmare for motorists. According to the survey, repair work is done on this road every day.

And between Klerksdorp and Ventersdorp motorists have to swerve to avoid 596 potholes.

The largest part of this road in the direction of Klerksdorp is monitored daily, according to the department, while the rest of the road is inspected by road workers every other day.

One road user described the condition of the roads he uses frequently as follows: "The road between Ottosdal and Hartbeesfontein is in its moer (ruined), the one between Vryburg and Schweizer-Reneke is a disaster and there are a few holes in the road between Schweizer and Delareyville."

According to the department, work is done on the road between Wolmaransstad and Schweizer-Reneke every day, but in places people rather drive on the gravel shoulder than on the road itself.

The roads department has spent its entire budget for 2009-2010 in less than six months.

The information about the Dr Kenneth Kaunda district does not include national roads such as the N12 and the N14 nor municipal streets.

- Beeld