The long-awaited upgrade to the N3 National Route started on 21 January 2021. The upgrades form part of a R30 billion upgrade for both the N2 and N3 highways programme in and around Msunduzi and Durban Metropolitan Municipality in KwaZulu-Natal.
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Facts regarding SANRAL and licence renewals
Recent media reports state that the South African National Roads Agency SOC Limited (SANRAL) intends to use the Administrative Adjudication of Road Traffic Offences Act (No. 46 of 1998) “AARTO” legal framework to either fine or have motor vehicle licence renewals blocked if motorists have outstanding e-toll fees.
As previously communicated to the media, the legal processes open to SANRAL for outstanding toll fees have been placed on hold until such time as a decision regarding e-tolls has been made by Cabinet.
SANRAL is aware than in the light of an imminent decision on e-tolls there will be attempts by various stakeholders to influence that decision. The regurgitation of old stories is clearly an attempt to do that. The agency would not like to be part of this clear lobbying that is going before a decision on e-tolls is taken. SANRAL, like all other stakeholders, keenly awaits the announcement of the decision. Until then, the agency would prefer to stay out of the matter.
Thembalethu Bridge upgrade will boost Southern Cape economy
With road infrastructure being prioritised in South Africa’s economic recovery plan in a post-COVID environment, the upgrade of the Thembalethu Bridge in George, bodes well for the Southern Cape economy. This project is a collaborative venture between SANRAL and the George Local Municipality, with the National Department of Transport having provided R82,127 million towards the funding of the project. SANRAL is the Implementing Agent working closely with the George Municipality.
The total construction period is between 24 and 30 months, which should create project participation opportunities for SMMEs as well as both direct and indirect jobs for the local community.
The scope of works involves the widening of the Thembalethu Bridge across the N2 from a single carriageway to accommodate two lanes in each direction, with additional turning lanes as well as extra space for pedestrians and cyclists.
“A new bridge will be constructed on the Western side. Once completed, the existing bridge will be raised and stitched to the new bridge, to ensure that the upgraded structure complies with the minimum bridge clearance of 5.2 metres,” explained Petronella Theron, SANRAL Project Manager.
Detailed design works is currently being finalised and the tender for a contractor will be out by June 2021. Taking the procurement processes into account, the contractor should be appointed by November 2021.
All SANRAL projects are guided by a 14-point plan that sets the tone for project liaison, sub-contracting and labour sourcing, as well as a commitment to its transformation policy that seeks to prioritise economic empowerment of black businesses in South Africa.
“With 30% of the project value being committed to targeted enterprises for subcontracting, there are huge opportunities for start-ups and emerging SMMEs to benefit from project participation,” said Thembinkosi Mosobela, SANRAL Stakeholder Coordinator in the Western Region.
A process of engagement with relevant stakeholders, is already underway and SANRAL, together with the George Local Municipality will explore opportunities to provide training and development of SMMEs in the road construction sector, to ensure that they are equipped, capacitated and ready to tender for work packages that become available on this project.
“These information-sharing and training sessions are of cardinal importance to ensure we broaden the scope of economic opportunities to businesses in the surrounding communities. Our transformation objectives are particularly aligned to facilitate participation of persons with disabilities, women-owned businesses as well as youth-owned operations,” continued Mosobela.
SANRAL promotes responsible road user behaviour and road infrastructure development
The South African National Roads Agency SOC Ltd (SANRAL’s) has urged all road users to exercise extreme caution ahead of and during the Easter holidays. SANRAL’s head of stakeholder relations, Siphiwo Mxhosa, says South African road users, including motorists and pedestrians, can save lives by practising responsible behaviour.
“SANRAL urges all South African road users to help save lives by complying with the basic rules of the road. Motorists must not drink and drive, nor should they use cell phones whilst driving. We still find that many people text whilst driving; this is not only illegal but illogical because you will cause an accident when you take your eyes off the road and don’t have both your hands on the steering wheel. Pedestrians can also prevent accidents by using only safe crossings. We can all save lives by doing such basics and respecting the rules of the road,” said Mr Mxhosa.
SANRAL participated in a drive to promote responsible road user behaviour ahead of the Easter holidays and to showcase road infrastructure development during the SUV Challenge – Eastern Cape Tour, which ended at Baviaanskloof on Saturday. The SUV Challenge is a public-private partnership incorporating a host of private sector entities partnering with state entities such as Brand South Africa and SANRAL, as well as various municipalities.
The SUV Challenge provided SANRAL with a platform to engage a broad range of stakeholders participating in the event, collaborating on areas of mutual interest on infrastructure development and, through the WHOA Activation at the proposed Kokstad Interchange, encouraged responsible road user behaviour.
“SANRAL encourages responsible road user behaviour and as participants in the SUV Challenge we shared this message with stakeholders in the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal. Part of the SUV Challenge was to participate in a heritage tour, putting on display for participants the region’s attractions and thereby promoting tourism, whilst also showcasing SANRAL’s world-class infrastructure. We also shared information on SANRAL’s scholarship and bursary programmes,” said Mr Mxhosa.
Mbulelo Peterson, SANRAL’s Southern Region Manager, said the roads agency was focussed on ensuring that the road network in the Eastern Cape promoted economic development in support of government’s Economic Reconstruction and Recovery Programme in response to the Covid-19 pandemic.
“The infrastructure development programmes emphasised by President Cyril Ramaphosa in his recent State of the Nation Address, as well as in the Budget Speech of Finance Minister Tito Mboweni, makes it clear that the road network is critically important to economic growth. In addition to promoting regional economic growth and job creation, SANRAL’s mandate extends beyond the design and construction of safer roads. Our Horizon 2030 Strategy also stresses road safety as a national priority and ensures our role in road safety education and awareness,” said Peterson.
The SUV Challenge – Eastern Cape Tour is a social initiative that was launched in 2018 by the Honourable Premier Oscar Mabuyane, then the MEC for Finance, Economic Development, Environmental Affairs and Tourism.
The SUV Challenge – Eastern Cape Tour started with a WHOA Activation at the Kokstad Interchange on Wednesday, 03 March. WHOA, which is a SANRAL campaign to communicate road safety messages to the public was launched in Kokstad ahead of the Easter holidays.
Included in the heritage tour was a visit to Mbongweni, the birthplace of Winnie Madikizela-Mandela. SANRAL will construct a 32km access road to Mbongweni from the R61 near Bizana, in Mbizana Local Municipality within the Alfred Nzo District.
SANRAL also shared messages of responsible road user behaviour and scholarship and bursary information with residents at Nkantolo, the home of the late Oliver Tambo, as well as Mqhekezweni Great Place, home of the late President Nelson Mandela.
SANRAL toll tariff adjustment effective 1 March 2021
Toll tariffs on South Africa’s national roads will be adjusted on 1 March 2021.
Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula has approved the 2021 toll tariffs as recommended by the South African National Roads Agency SOC Limited (SANRAL). The adjustments were gazetted on 11 February 2021.
“The toll tariff amounts are adjusted by the annual Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation rate and therefore remain the same in real terms and are effectively not increased above the base date toll tariff from when the toll was initially implemented. For SANRAL operated toll routes, the applicable CPI is calculated as the average of annual CPI increases for the months from November to October each year. For the calculation of the March 2021 toll tariffs, the average of the November 2019 to October 2020 monthly year-on-year CPI was obtained from Statistics South Africa (Stats SA) and is calculated to be 3.39 percent, explains Vusi Mona, SANRAL’s General Manager for Communications.
“We incorrectly stated in a media release yesterday (Sunday) that the increase would be 5 percent and apologise to the public and our stakeholders for any inconvenience caused. The correct figure is 3.39 percent, not 5 percent as stated yesterday. However, the table of new toll fees issued yesterday is correct and stands as published,” said Mr. Mona.
Discounts offered at specific toll plazas for frequent users, as well as qualifying local users still apply. Application for discounts can be made at the various toll plaza offices nationwide.
Through SANRAL, the department of transport uses tolling selectively to implement major road infrastructure projects and ensure seamless mobility of vehicles on the national road network. The SANRAL toll road network represents 13.3% of the 22,253km SANRAL national road network and only 5% of the total South African road network.
Toll roads allow for the borrowing of capital to develop road infrastructure when it is required, rather than having to wait until funds are available from an already strained fiscus. Toll monies are used to maintain, operate and improve toll roads, as well as to service debt incurred to implement a toll road project.
The cost in the event of delayed maintenance on roads can be up to 18 times higher than it would have been if routine preventative maintenance was undertaken. Tolls are paid only by those that make use of the specific toll road.
For details on the applicable tariffs, please refer to the Government Gazettes published on Thursday 11 February 2021, numbers 44145, 44146, 44147 and 44149.
SANRAL to resume upgrades on the N3 between Dardanelles Interchange and Lynnfield Park Interchange
The South African National Roads Agency SOC Ltd (SANRAL) has announced the start of the much-anticipated upgrades of the National Route 3 (N3).
This will involve the upgrade of the N3 between the Dardanelles interchange and the Lynnfield Park interchange situated between Cato Ridge and Pietermaritzburg.
During the next 42-month construction period, the existing 4-lane dual carriageway road will be upgraded to an 8-lane dual carriageway by widening to the median and outer shoulders. The existing Dardanelles interchange will also be upgraded to improve traffic flow.
The construction will be result in an investment of R1.48 billion in this section of the highway and create an estimated 700 employment opportunities. The upgrade is a part of the government’s strategy to use Infrastructure delivery to kickstart the economy and forms part of the governments Strategic Integrated Projects SIP2: Durban-Free State-Gauteng Logistics and Industrial Corridor. SIP2 aims to strengthen the logistics and transport corridor between South Africa’s main industrial hubs, improve access to Durban’s export and import facilities and raise efficiency along the corridor.
“Initial work will impact traffic utilising the R103 north of the Camperdown interchange to south of the Lynnfield Park interchange. STOP/GO traffic accommodation along this section of the R103 will be in place to repair the R103 surface and to lower the R103 where it crosses under the N3 north of Dardanelles,” said Corné Roux, Project Engineer; SANRAL Eastern Region.
The STOP/GO control is anticipated to be effective from 12 February 2021 until 15 May 2021 in the areas indicated in the image below.
The main upgrading activities on the N3 are expected to commence in May 2021, starting with the widening of the southbound carriageway.
Motorists are, however, advised to take note of the construction site and to be observant of the advance warning signs and speed reductions when travelling past the construction work zones.
“The safety of road users and construction workers is of paramount importance. We urge all road users to be extra vigilant, drive with extreme care during the upgrades and obey traffic rules at all times,” concluded Roux.
Heavy rains cause flood damage on the N14 outside Kuruman
SANRAL wishes to update road users on road closures and conditions on the N14, Section 8, approximately 42km outside of Kuruman in the Northern Cape, towards Vryburg in the North West.
As a result of heavy rains, the roadway has flooded, and a culvert collapsed. At this stage, Stop/Go systems are being used to accommodate traffic in one lane, but the road condition is very bad and road users are advised to avoid this area as far as possible.
Engineers are on their way to inspect the scene and assess the damage, after which repairs will commence.
Road users travelling between Kimberley and Upington, are advised to avoid the N14, N8 and R31, and to rather take the N12 from Kimberley, linking up with the N10 just before Britstown and then travel via the N10 to Upington.
“The Road Incident Management System (RIMS) has been activated, and all emergency services, including SAPS and Provincial Traffic, have been mobilised to assist with road safety operations and re-routing motorists,” said Randall Cable, SANRAL Western Region Manager.
The weather continues to impact road conditions and further heavy rains are expected throughout the coming weekend.
“We appeal to road users to remain vigilant and aware of their surroundings following these adverse weather conditions,” concluded Cable.
Upgrading the Fort Beaufort to Alice road will bring improved access to market and economic opportunities for the Eastern Cape
Upgrading the R63 from Fort Beaufort to Alice will lower the vehicle operating cost and increase the provincial economy’s integration, the South African National Roads Agency SOC Ltd (SANRAL) announced.
The three-year project will result in wider and safer roads that will bring much needed economic benefit to local communities and businesses, with skills development and job creation for an estimated 500 people.
“The project benefits to the province include the ease of travel between Fort Beaufort and the N2 at King Williams Town. The upgraded road will reduce the cost of the transportation of goods and services and facilitate greater economic activity. Furthermore, the upgrade of this road means there will be improved access to the market for surrounding settlements, as well as economic opportunities in other parts of the province,” said Mbulelo Peterson, SANRAL Southern Region Manager.
The new road will remain a single carriageway, albeit with a much wider, 13.4-metre-wide cross-section than the current 7m wide road. The road will also feature designated climbing lanes for trucks transporting goods to minimise congestion and traffic build-up as is currently experienced. The completed project will contribute to reduced cost and time savings.
The provincial government transferred the R63 route, in 2012, to be incorporated into the SANRAL road network.
On a technical level, the upgrade of the 23km road will improve and increase road capacity from Fort Beaufort to Alice. The substandard 7m surfaced road with gravel shoulders, sharp curves, and steep slopes are upgraded to a wider 13.4m cross-section, including paved shoulders, gentle curves, flatter geometry, and climbing lanes. The project also includes upgrading new community access roads and pedestrian walkways. The construction of temporary deviations will minimise the impact of the traffic flows during construction activities.
The Fort Beaufort main road, Campbell street, will be rehabilitated, which includes the relocation of the old and unreliable sewer system and water mains that runs in the middle of the street.
Since SMME participation is an essential component of all SANRAL projects, at least 60 SMMEs will be appointed over the construction period, with a target of approximately 20 women-owned businesses. All SMME contractors will receive training before their construction starts with ongoing mentoring throughout the project. Apart from training on how to tender, the successful sub-contractors will also receive training on installing culverts, construction of concrete side drains, kerb laying, construction of gabions, road signs erection, and pavement repair failures.
A material testing laboratory, managed by SGS Matrolab, has also been established to test the properties of construction materials used in upgrading the road.
Some of the major roadworks on this project include:
- the construction of mass earthworks and new pavement layers,
- Installation of pre-cast pipe and box culverts,
- the construction of concrete inlet/outlet structures,
- the erection of guardrails, road signs and fencing where required,
- the widening of two existing bridge structures, namely the Kat River and Brak River Bridges,
- construction of a new bridge over Mxelo river,
- the replacement of two road-over-rail bridges at Kwatinidubu Rail Bridge and Kwezana Rail Bridge,
- the installation of street lighting from the Kat River Bridge, just outside Fort Beaufort, through Campbell Street to the new Sports Centre Development,
- the relocation of the water main and sewer system in Campbell Street and
- the upgrading of the drainage system and parking facilities in Campbell street
“The construction of a wider road with minimal vertical and horizontal curves will lead to safer and smoother travel by the public,” Peterson said.
7 SMMEs appointed for RRM on SANRAL’s N8 in Griekwastad
With R33.9 million set aside for Routine Road Maintenance (RRM) on the N8 between Rooisand and Vaal River, in the Pixley Ka Seme District Municipality and Siyancuma Local Municipality, there are significant opportunities for local Small, Medium and Micro Enterprises (SMMEs) to participate in this project over the next three years.
The contract was awarded to Razzmatazz Civil (PTY) Ltd in August 2020, and the contractor wasted no time in advertising work packages for subcontractors. Tenders for subcontracting closed in the first week in December 2020 and were awarded earlier this month, to seven subcontractors who already reported to site.
“To ensure maximum project participation from the local communities, at least 50% of the RRM works are structured into sustainable packages which are let on tender at regular cycles. This ensures we spread the economic opportunities to give more eligible businesses opportunities to participate in SANRAL projects,” explained Gretchen Weber-Cherry, SANRAL Project Manager.
SANRAL held an information session in the municipal hall in Griekwastad in November 2020, to ensure that potential subcontractors had access to information about the project, could engage with SANRAL’s leadership and could also directly engage with the main contractor. Furthermore, the regional manager of the Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB), Ms Given Madiba, was also on hand (virtually) to guide emerging businesses through the process of registration and improving their grading.
Milton van Heerden from Delta Infrastructure Solutions, the Consultants’ Route Manager on the N8, assured the community that this project would ensure not only maximum participation opportunities, by splitting the work into 12 month packages, but would also afford participants significant training, development and mentoring, that would equip them with skills and knowledge for other economic opportunities down the line.
Subcontractors would also have their own space at the site office, to further facilitate mentoring and supervision under the main contractor and the consultant.
Strict COVID-19 protocols were adhered to at the venue, including a simple cell phone registration process that eliminated the need to queue at the registration desk, and also limited opportunities of touching shared surfaces. Temperature screening was done for all attendees, with masks as hand sanitiser also given to every person.
While the community was excited about the economic opportunities for small businesses, as well as the jobs that this project would create, they were equally vocal in their questions and suggestions for additional support. These included requests for tender documents to be simplified, opportunities to be exclusively for Griekwastad residents, information about bursaries for their children and raising the threshold for entry level projects, to ensure start-ups could be more financially sustainable, as well as long-term corporate social investment initiatives for their town.
“We value the robust input from the community. They are our stakeholders and we want to ensure that SANRAL projects not only provide improved road infrastructure, but that we leave a legacy of transformation, economic empowerment and a community of people who are able to mobilise themselves to access further opportunities that may come their way in future. We are working on addressing their concerns and through the Project Liaison Committee (PLC), we will keep them informed of progress,” concluded Weber-Cherry.
Cyclone Eloise causes damage to the N4
The Elandsvalley section of the N4 Toll Route will be closed for an undetermined period following significant infrastructure damage between Elandshoek and Ngodwana (N4/7X km11.6).
According to engineers on site the infamous Cyclone Eloise, which severely affected Mpumalanga’s Lowveld region this weekend, caused damage to the N4 that required the Elandskloof section of the road to be closed to traffic on Sunday night. Further investigations found that approximately 160mm of rain fell in the Ngodwana area between Saturday, January 23 and Monday, January 25 which resulted in a flash flood that uprooted stumps and trees causing damage to the road’s infrastructure.
TRAC CEO, Alex van Niekerk, who was on site today to assess the matter, noted that the damage caused to the road is not due to poor workmanship or negligence but rather due to an act of nature. “After the heavy rainfall on Sunday, a stream crossing underneath the N4 through a culvert flooded over the road. This resulted in road fill material underneath the road surface to be washed away, which caused the road surface to subside. We are relieved that the culvert itself was not damaged as this would have resulted in a longer repair period.”
Road users travelling between the Lowveld and the Highveld and Gauteng regions must use the N4 Toll Route’s alternative route – Schoemanskloof – while TRAC carries out major repair work in the affected area.
We apologise for the inconvenience and commit ourselves to repair the damages as soon as possible with repair operations already underway. We want to thank members of the public for their understanding, patience and support during this time.
For information about other parts of the route, road users are urged to contact the TRAC 24-hour Helpdesk on 0800 87 22 64 or visit our website www.tracn4.co.za or follow us on Twitter @TRACN4route or Facebook @TRACN4.