The Johannesburg Roads Agency in South Africa needs to spend $38m (R284m) every year on road resurfacing alone, the agency has said.

Budgetary constraints are delaying the maintenance of potholes, trenches and faulty traffic lights in many parts of the city, aggravating congestion and road conditions.

The agency’s total budget for this year is about $70m (R527m), which has forced it to reprioritise road rehabilitation projects.

Unfinished works ahead of World Cup 2010 include the upgrade of 1654 guidance signs on main roads the installation of 122 tourism signs and the erection of 1000 street and suburb name signs.