Oudtshoorn, 23 July 2024 – The Greater Oudtshoorn Municipality is currently facing significant challenges with its road network, potholes, and ageing pipeline systems. Acting Director of Technical Services, Chris Swart, has outlined the urgent need for repairs and the impact these issues have on the community. Below is an overview of the current situation and the measures being taken to improve the infrastructure of Greater Oudtshoorn.
Roads:
- The roads in Oudtshoorn require substantial work. Swart explained the following about asphalt roads:
- The base layer provides the strength to the road, not the asphalt on top.
- While the asphalt must be of a specific thickness, its primary purpose is to seal the road.
- Water is the greatest enemy of a road. If water penetrates the layers, the road deteriorates.
- Therefore, the asphalt’s main function is to keep water out of the layers.
- Every 10-20 years, a resealing program should be implemented. This has not occurred regularly in Greater Oudtshoorn, leading to the current poor condition of the roads with numerous potholes.
- Currently, the Oudtshoorn Municipality needs R800 million to restore the roads to standard.
- This year’s budget for capital road rehabilitation is R4 million, and for operational expenses, it is R4.9 million.
Potholes:
- Swart further explained how potholes are formed, worsening during rain.
- Water on the road surface penetrates cracks and gaps in the road layers.
- Cracks in the asphalt can be caused by the base layer giving way or the asphalt layer drying out due to bitumen starvation. This is why roads need to be rejuvenated to extend the asphalt’s lifespan.
- Water entering the cracks weakens the top layer of the road, causing the asphalt to wear away and form a pothole.
Pipeline Networks:
- Additionally, he explained that the pipeline network is problematic because Oudtshoorn still operates with asbestos piping.
- 80% of Oudtshoorn’s approximately 200km water network consists of asbestos pipes.
- This pipeline network has largely reached the end of its lifespan, resulting in frequent pipe bursts.
- Similar to road resealing programs, municipalities typically have a pipe replacement program over the years to replace old and outdated infrastructure. This had been neglected in Oudtshoorn, and only in the last five years has there been a concerted effort to replace asbestos pipes with modern PVC pipes.
- Unfortunately, the estimated cost to completely replace the network is around R200-R300 million. It will take many years to reach the standard with the current available funds.
- Additionally, most of the pipeline network is under our asphalt roads. Each time there is a pipe burst, the asphalt is damaged, contributing to the poor condition of our roads.
The municipality’s approach is to carry out repairs as they can and then apply a seal layer on the road to prevent potholes from forming again. The main focus at the moment is the roads in the inner town, after which the plan will be rolled out to other areas in Greater Oudtshoorn.
The Oudtshoorn Municipality acknowledges the significant challenges posed by our ageing infrastructure and is dedicated to making the necessary improvements. While the financial requirements are substantial, the municipality is taking a phased approach to repair and upgrade our roads and pipeline networks. By prioritizing the most critical areas and implementing strategic repair programs, we aim to enhance the quality and safety of our infrastructure for all residents.