Frustration is mounting among Goodwood residents as construction along a key stretch of Jakes Gerwel Drive appears to have stalled, with no visible progress in weeks and no clear detour signage in place.
Residents who use the section between Viking Way and Voortrekker Road say the middle lane of the bridge leading toward the GrandWest Casino was dug up nearly two weeks ago, but since then, there has been no sign of active work on site.
“There are no graders, diggers, rollers, tar machines or any construction vehicles to be seen — and it’s causing untold havoc,” a resident said.
Alternative routes
Commuters also raised concerns about the lack of signage to suggest alternative routes, especially during peak traffic hours.
“There’s not even an attempt to do night work.
“It’s like the project was abandoned,” said another resident.
In response, the City’s Mayco member for urban mobility, Rob Quintas, explained that the project — officially launched in October 2024 — began physical construction in January following a mobilisation phase.
He said public notices and presentations to local councillors were issued ahead of time to inform residents about the scope and duration of the rehabilitation.
Far more complex
Quintas acknowledged that while many road projects allow for quick turnaround, the design requirements for this stretch of Jakes Gerwel Drive are far more complex due to the deteriorated state of the road and high volumes of heavy-duty traffic.
“This portion of Jakes Gerwel requires deep rehabilitation — removing the lower layers of the road and replacing them with cement-stabilised material.
“The cement layer needs a minimum of seven days to cure before any further work can proceed,” he explained.
The apparent lack of activity, he said, is due to these necessary curing periods, as construction traffic cannot move on top of uncured cement without risking damage to the new foundation.
Delays
Adding to the delays, recent heavy rains have prevented the team from laying the asphalt layer, prolonging the period when the site appears idle.
“Unfortunately, even if we worked overnight, the required curing time and weather-related delays would still impact progress. The is City working to minimise disruption by phasing the project and keeping all directions of traffic open where possible.
“While detour routes are being considered, logistical challenges posed by the nearby railway reserve have complicated efforts. A diversion through GrandWest is not a viable option at this stage,” says Quintas.
Despite the frustrations, the City urged residents to remain patient, assuring that the work will result in a significantly more durable and traffic-resilient road once completed.
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