Johannesburg gives no timeline for restoring Queen Street — Daily Maverick
In Johannesburg, South Africa, the municipal company Johannesburg Water did not provide a date for the full restoration of Queen Street in Kensington after pipeline replacement. Work on one of the area's main commercial streets has been ongoing since March 2026, while business owners report a 40–70% decline in customer numbers and sales, Daily Maverick writes.
Queen Street is part of the city's M33 route, which runs through Kensington between the Malvern and Bruma areas. Due to the excavated road, dirt, dust and restricted access to businesses, traffic is being diverted to neighbouring streets. Since work began, specialists have replaced approximately 400 metres of pipeline.
Pipeline repairs have not yet been completed
Johannesburg Water spokesperson Nombuso Shabalala said that another section of pipe needs to be replaced. According to her, the company is seeking additional materials, and work will continue once there are sufficient supplies. However, she did not specify the length of the unreplaced section, the expected date of the materials' arrival, or the cost of replacing the pipes.
After the underground work is completed, the road surface is to be restored by the Johannesburg Roads Agency. According to Johannesburg Water, the agency's proposal for the full restoration of the road is still under discussion and awaiting approval. As a temporary measure, the company planned to fill the excavated section back to ground level; preparations to begin this work by September 30, 2026, were ongoing.
More current news is available on the UA.News Telegram channel Telegram.
Business owners demand a work schedule
Ward 118 city councillor Neuren Petersen appealed to members of the city executive committee to urgently find funding to restore the street. In his assessment, the full restoration of the roadway could cost about 13 million rand. Johannesburg Water did not confirm this amount, stating only that the roads agency's proposal had not yet been approved.
Petersen also raised questions in the city council about the reasons for the delays, the timeline for completing the work, traffic safety on the narrowed section, and the risks of erosion and flooding. In the council's response, the matter was referred to the transport department. Later, part of the road collapsed at the intersection of Queen Street and Derby Road.
Local business community representative Nico Brandt said in an open letter that prolonged closures, blocked pavements, noise and dust are causing long-term economic damage to businesses. Businesses are asking the authorities to establish a clear schedule for completing the work, improve communication and consider assistance for companies with documented losses.
