Responsible for Designing and construction of capital roads projects, civil engineering structures and major rehabilitation of roads 

The road network represents a major investment that has been built progressively over a period of time. It is a highly visible asset that supports the local economy from a functional perspective in terms of both mobility and access. 

One of the largest infrastructure assets owned by the City is the City’s road network. There are thousands of kilometers of roads in the City, with an overall asset value of over 100 billion rand. 

The bulk of the capital allocation provided to the Engineering Unit is spent on providing and maintaining our road infrastructure. This road network plays a critical role in connecting residents to social and economic opportunities, and to the economy of the City. 

The city owns much of the road network, but the eThekwini boundaries also include key National Roads, being the N2 running from Cape Town to the northern borders of the Province, and the N3, connecting the City, and it’s harbour, with Johannesburg and Gauteng. There are also a number of important Provincial Roads crossing the City, that are owned and maintained by Province, for example the M13 that connects the City Centre to the commercial and residential areas in the West, for example, Pinetown and Cato Ridge.

This road network requires liaison and co-operation between all three spheres of government. This is a key area of work for technical staff in both the Transport Unit and the Engineering Unit.

Rehabilitation (Preventative Maintenance) 

Through its Pavement Management System, the surfaced network undergoes a detailed inspection every two years, the data from which generates the rehabilitation programme. 

The rehabilitation can range from seals to full reconstruction depending upon the condition of the particular road. Extensive use is made of recycling the old road pavement material where this is milled out. The Municipality has been at the forefront nationally in promoting new technologies such as the pioneering of the use of the BSM material which makes use of recycled asphalt millings and EME asphalt which is a high- performance asphalt used in extreme traffic conditions 

New and Upgraded Road Infrastructure 

Work ranges from provision of sidewalks, upgrading gravel to surfaced roads, building of road related structures through to freeway/arterial road projects. Implementation of major roads projects are informed through the Transport Authority's Integrated Transport Plan. 

Deputy Head: David Thomas (Pr.Eng, MBA)

ENQUIRIES RELATING TO THE CONSTRUCTION OF NEW ROADS CAN BE DIRECTED TO:
Lihle Mkhize
Tel: 031 311 7642
Email: lihle.mkhize@durban.gov.za

REPORTING OF POTHOLES/BLOCKED STORMWATER DRAINS CAN BE DIRECTED TO:
Engineering Unit’s 24-hour Call Centre
Tel: Toll-free 080 131 3013
Email: Eservices@durban.gov.za

REQUESTS FOR SPEED HUMPS CAN BE DIRECTED TO:
Eugene Naidoo
Tel: 031 3117316
Email: Eugene.Naidoo@durban.gov.za

The Roads and Stormwater Maintenance Department Provides an efficient and effective roads and stormwater system maintenance service.

Key functions of the Department include:

• Routine inspection of the road and stormwater network
• Repairs to potholes, sinkholes and road subsidences
• Repair/ reinstatement of excavations, trenches and localized failures on roads and sidewalks.
• Repair, maintenance and unblocking of stormwater drainage systems
• Replacement of missing covers, access lids and bollards
• Repair/ replacement of guardrails, handrails and roadside fencing
• Repair/ replacement of traffic lines and signs
• Blading, re-gravelling and associated maintenance works on gravel roads
• Stream cleaning and maintenance
• Rails siding maintenance and improvements
• Crack sealing and slurry sealing of roads
• Removal of rubble and sand from the road and road reserve areas
• Upgrading of low volume gravel roads

REPORT 

• To report potholes, blocked storm water drains, missing manhole covers, and other engineering faults:
• Call 080 131 3013 or email: eservices@durban.gov.za.
• WhatsApp: 0731483477

The length of the road network in the eThekwini municipal area is 9 462 km.   Roads are maintained by three roads authorities, which are:

• The KwaZulu-Natal Department of Transport (KZN DOT) is responsible for maintaining all provincial roads (1 411 km).  Most provincial road numbers are prefixed by the letter M, P or R; for example: M19, M7, P100, R102. Direct queries about Provincial roads to Tel: +27 31 469 8900
   
• The South African National Roads Authority Limited (SANRAL) is responsible for the maintenance of the N2 and N3 freeways (367 km).  Direct queries about SANRAL roads to Tel: +27 33 386 3365
   
• The eThekwini Roads & Stormwater Department is responsible for the maintenance of the balance of the network (7682 km). In addition, there are approximately 110 000 inlets and manholes on the municipal stormwater system which are maintained by the department of which an average of approximately 1000 covers are lost annually due to theft or damage.

When you contact us, we will respond to complaints related to potholes, trenches in the road, missing stormwater covers and stormwater blockages within twenty-four hours to initially ensure that the situation is assessed and made safe where necessary.  Thereafter, some repair work may take a little longer depending on circumstances on site but should not exceed ten days.

All complaints related to the repair and maintenance of municipal roads and the stormwater system may be directed to the Roads & Stormwater Department via the Engineering Unit’s 24-hour Call Centre on toll-free 080 131 3013 or email Eservices@durban.gov.za

A complaints reference number will be given, should it be necessary to query the complaint further.

Queries on related matters concerning this Department may be directed to
Tel: 031 311 7802 or to 031 311 7240.

Insurance claims resulting from damage on municipal roads may be directed to Tel: 031 311 1551/2

All queries related to the resurfacing of roads may be directed to the Engineering Unit’s Roads Provision Department on Tel: 031 311 7601

Upgrading of Low Volume Roads in the rural areas of eThekwini Municipality 

The Engineering Unit within eThekwini Municipality upgrades gravel roads to blacktop surface on a three- year basis. This initiative concentrates mostly on rural areas within eThekwini Municipality. The City’s Gravel to Surface road upgrade programme spends about R 150 million per year with the aim of upgrading all gravel roads in former township areas. At a cost of R 8.5 million per kilometre, and approximately 15 kilometres of upgrades undertaken per year, the backlog in this programme will take about 15 years to clear. The development of BEE contractors in the implementation of this programme is a key part of the Department’s economic transformation programme.

What we do

Design and project manage new capital projects, including engineering infrastructure for:

• Urban renewal and economic development projects. 
• Tourism and beachfront projects.
• Sport fields and recreation facilities. 
• Cemeteries and informal trade facilities. 
• Engineering services for low income human settlement development.
• Co-ordination of integrated  provision of engineering infrastructure for development projects by multiple departments and private developers.

Deputy Head: Lorato Piki
Tel: 031 311 7282
Fax: 031 311 7786
Email: lorato.piki@durban.gov.za

Location: 6th Floor, West Wing, 166 K.E Masinga Road , Durban 

Postal Address: Engineering Unit
                          P.O. Box 680
                          Durban, 4000

NOTE: All Queries related to Planning or building approval matters should be referred to the Development Planning and Management Unit or call this number: 031 311 7881