Only 15% of work to restore Bree Street completed following 2023 gas explosion, says Morero
The street was initially expected to be fully repaired by December 2024, but nearly 20 months after the gas explosion, construction machinery and safety nets are still a frequent sight on Bree Street.
Johannesburg Mayor Dada Morero on 3 February 2025 gave an update on repairs to Bree Street, which was destroyed by a gas explosion in 2023. Picture: Alpha Ramushwana/EWN
JOHANNESBURG - Only 15% of the work to restore the damaged Bree Street in Johannesburg CBD has been completed, almost two years after it was destroyed by a gas explosion.
In July 2023, an explosion in the city’s underground tunnels caused significant damage to a portion of the street and surrounding infrastructure.
Although the street was initially expected to be fully repaired by December 2024, the city said that only 15% of the work had been done.
On Monday, Johannesburg Mayor Dada Morero and Transport MMC Kenny Kunene conducted a site inspection at Bree Street.
Nearly 20 months after the gas explosion, construction machinery and safety nets are still a frequent sight on Bree Street.
Almost R200 million has been allocated to complete the repairs, but progress has been minimal.
Morero said that although only 15% of the work had been completed, the company contracted for the job had spent only R2.2 million of the allocated budget.
"Of course, there have been delays because we only started in November, but where we are now, the contractor has cashed up at about 15% of the 20% required on work but we believe we will be able to catch up."
The repairs are now expected to be completed in August.
Nearly 20 months since the Bree Street gas explosion in Johannesburg CBD, the corridor remains a construction zone.
— EWN Reporter (@ewnreporter) February 3, 2025
Repairs to the street are expected to be completed in August this year with R194 Million set aside for the project. @JusstAlpha pic.twitter.com/94dxjDtzDe