BYE POTHOLES: Johannesburg Roads Agency recommissions asphalt plant
Johannesburg Roads Agency says recommissioning the asphalt plant will save the entity money and improve efficiency.
The Johannesburg Roads Agency (JRA) has announced the recommissioning of its asphalt plant in Booysens following a year of no production.
ASPHALT PLANT LAST IN USE LAST YEAR
The plant, which produces asphalt used for the City’s road construction and repairs, was closed in August 2022 due to technical and operational challenges, including no appointed bitumen supplier. Bitumen is a key ingredient in asphalt production.
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“We are pleased to announce the finalisation of the new bitumen supplier and that today our asphalt plant is being recommissioned to full operation,” said Johannesburg Roads Agency Acting Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Zweli Nyathi.
MAJOR ACHIEVEMENT FOR JOHANNESBURG ROADS AGENCY
He added that this is a major milestone for the city as it will allow the Johannesburg Roads Agency to resume self-provision of asphalt for road maintenance and construction projects.
“This will save us money and improve the efficiency of our operations.”Nyathi
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The JRA’s asphalt plant has a production capacity of 20 tonnes per hour and 1520 tonnes per day. This means that it can produce enough asphalt to resurface approximately 2,5 km of road per day.
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JRA TO ELIMINATE THIRD-PARTY SUPPLIERS
Member of the Mayoral Committee for Transport (MMC) councillor Kenny Kunene weighed in by saying the recommissioning of the JRA’s asphalt plan is a significant achievement.
“Johannesburg Roads Agency no longer has to rely on third-party supply of hot and cold mix to fix potholes and resurface roads. With this plant now fully operational, service delivery for road maintenance including pothole repairs will be greatly improved benefiting all road users, while easing the movement of people for good,” MMC Kunene explained.
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