Lilian Ngoyi Street won’t be open to traffic despite completion of first phase restoration

JOHANNESBURG - The once damaged Lilian Ngoyi Street in the Johannesburg CBD will not be open to traffic on Monday, despite the completion of the phase one repair work.

Officials had previously promised that it would be business as usual in the once bustling street, famously known as Bree Street.

The route was destroyed by an underground gas explosion in July 2023 that killed one person and injured many others.

Speaking from Lilian Ngoyi Street on Monday, Johannesburg Mayor Dada Morero announced the completion of phase one.

Before the underground gas explosion damaged parts of Lilian Ngoyi Street, the road was surfaced with tar.

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The rebuilt section has now been laid with paving bricks, marking a shift from the traditional tar surfacing.

Johannesburg Roads Agency CEO Zweli Nyathi explained why the city opted for this approach.

“The city is moving towards a smart direction… Secondly, as part of the transportation masterplan, that is why you find yourself standing on the pavement. Some will argue, why [the] pavement? We are beautifying the city all the way to the Transit Mall. As part of phase 2, you will that the road will look different, and we want to reduce these lanes…”

But, to the surprise of motorists and residents, the street is still closed off, with safety nets surrounding the area affected by the blast.

Dust and sand still cover sections of the newly reconstructed road, as clean-up work by the city’s construction teams remains outstanding.