The Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality is set to embark on infrastructure construction projects that will see houses refurbished, roads resurfaced and potholes fixed.
The Municipality will spend R99m on the projects with Magennis Street, being one of the projects receiving R25m set aside for its reconstruction.
Magennis Street renovation initiative will be used for the Integrated Public Transport System (IPTS) buses if the project is eventually rolled out. The city has also set aside R30m for bulk sewer pipes in KwaNobuhle.
Giant potholes in some roads in Magennis Street have already been patched up with the tender for the upgrade of the street that was advertised last month set to close in December.
The R99m initiative is a welcome progress as Uitenhage residents have complained for years that the metro often takes months to respond to reported service delivery problems like potholes and water-pipe leaks.
Infrastructure and engineering political boss Andile Mfunda together with councilors and officials, on Tuesday 24 November went on site inspections of Uitenhage and KwaNobuhle projects. Mfunda emphasized on the importance of upgrading Magennis Street saying the road was key as it connected KwaNobuhle to town.
Infrastructure and engineering executive director Walter Shaidi said R7m would be spent on resurfacing Magennis Street next year, R12m in the next financial year and a further R6m afterwards.
“Mageni Street will be upgraded to a public transport corridor because the IPTS buses will run here. The Contractors will be on site in April.
The road has been a menace to many residents here; we might even have footpath which will bring more convenience for the pedestrians” Shaidi said.
R34m was also set aside for the renovation of 790 housing units in Gunguluza Area 11. The project started earlier this month and is set to be complete in March next year. An additional R10.9m has been allocated for bulk water project in the area.
