Gloria Motsoere 10 May 2024 | 10:00

Lilian Ngoyi Street explosion site repairs still underway and should be completed by December

Last year, one person was killed and 48 others injured, when a methane gas explosion led to the closure of the road.

Lilian Ngoyi Street explosion site repairs still underway and should be completed by December

An image of the site of the Lilian Ngoyi Street blast, where an underground gas explosion ripped open an extensive strip of roadway in July 2023, was posted by Johannesburg Mayor Kabelo Gwamanda on 11 January 2024. Picture: X/KabeloGwamanda

JOHANNESBURG -The Johannesburg Roads Agency (JRA) said that it has made about 20 percent progress in repairing the explosion site on Lilian Ngoyi Street In the city centre.

The agency along with other provincial departments are engaging with business owners in the inner city, who have been affected by the blast on the busy road.

Last year, one person was killed and 48 others injured, when a methane gas explosion led to the closure of the road.

The JRA is has condemned the increase of human waste that is seen near street, since parts of the road have been cordoned off.

It says many residents are also dumping uncollected waste into the construction site, which delays daily operations.

The JRA's Eduan Mohammed says the city is working to address this.

"Illegal connections by residents which impact on the contractor, which causes run off into the site."

Muhammed has also assured residents in the area that repairs are on track and should be completed in December.