Road infrastructure backlog needs R8bn

Based on a highlevel estimate, the Johannesburg Roads Agency (JRA) says it requires more than R8 billion to effectively address the city’s road infrastructure backlog. The agency says most roads in the city were never designed to cope with the rapid annual traffic growth experienced in recent years, a problem exacerbated by limited financial resources and competing service delivery priorities. According to the JRA, most potholes on the road network are a symptom of deep structural pavement failures due to heavy traffic volumes. It adds that most Johannesburg roads require full rehabilitation or total reconstruction. The same is true for the city’s bridge infrastructure. Despite limited resources, the agency says it endeavours to address these issues every year, depending on budget availability.