The South African National Roads Agency (SOC) Limited (SANRAL) continues to improve the safety of all road users with its projects along the N2 between Dutywa and Mthatha.

One such improvement project stretches from the village of Tetyana to Sitebe Komkulu and will take approximately 30 months to complete.

The project includes the construction of a pedestrian bridge and four agricultural underpasses – both of which would provide safer passage for both pedestrians and cattle – the upgrading of numerous intersections and the construction of access roads from villages to formal settlements.

Nearly half of the deaths that occur on South African roads involve pedestrians. Years of road-infrastructure disinvestment, along with the introduction of more road users, has made the former Transkei a high-incident region.

The preliminary festive season report for December 2015 and January 2016 showed that fatalities in the Eastern Cape increased by roughly 22%, from 227 to 278.

Added time on trips 

Controlled rock-cutting explosions will widen the road, smooth out the curves and improve sight distance – all major contributors to road safety. Controlled blasting takes place on Tuesday and Thursdays, between Dutywa and Mthatha in the Ntentu cuttings.

The road will be closed for a maximum period of two hours during blasting.

Motorists travelling east, towards Mthatha, may consider either exiting the N2 at Ndabakazi on the R408 towards Ngqamakwe/Tsomo, or via the R409 at Dutywa towards Ngcobo, as alternatives. Both routes link to the R61 and then rejoin the N2 in Mthatha.

Motorists travelling west, towards East London, may consider using the R61 when leaving Mthatha and then linking back to the N2 via either the R408 after Ngcobo or the R409 towards Tsomo.

The alternative route is 60km longer and may add approximately 40 minutes to your trip between East London and Mthatha.