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OUTA wrong again

Source: Shutterstock
Source: Shutterstock

OUTA is wrong – again. SANRAL is claiming up to R760 million from seven construction companies (and their joint ventures) accused of colluding on infrastructure projects belonging to the national roads agency.

OUTA’s suggestion that the claim should have been for billions is based on nothing other than its usual flight of fancy. This is the same organization that in its so-called research compared the cost of constructing a modern urban highway to that of a rural road and on that basis concluded the Gauteng Freeway Improvement Project was overcharged by billions.

Also, OUTA had previously accused SANRAL of colluding with the industry and suggesting the civil action would not happen. “Now that we have shown that its accusations were unfounded, OUTA is raising another argument about the inadequacy of the claim. But we will not be irresponsible and claim for damages based on OUTA’s suspect figures,” Mona said.

The South African National Roads Agency Pty Ltd SOC (SANRAL) based its claim on the submissions to, and findings of the Competition Commission, says its communications manager, Vusi Mona. SANRAL also turned to experts such as economists and quantity surveyors, among others, to work on the quantification.

“In litigation matters one has to be thorough and show the actual damages suffered. The ones OUTA perceives us to have suffered are just that: perceived damages. Besides, when we go to court we would prefer calculations done by experts rather than OUTA,” he said.

“OUTA’s assertions that it demands full transparency on the matter are again preposterous. The court papers have been filed and are now public documents. OUTA can go to court and view them. Also, should the cases proceed to court, OUTA will have the opportunity to be in court and follow the proceedings. The process can’t get more transparent than that,” Mona said.

Mona added that given OUTA’s record with its disregard for court decisions.

Roadworks continue on N2 from Wilsonia to N6

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Source: Shutterstock

 

There will be roadworks taking place on the Amalinda and Western Avenue bridges and ramps from Monday 9 May to Friday 13 May at night. The night works are scheduled to take place between 19:00 and 24:00 daily.
SANRAL apologizes for any inconvenience caused

SANRAL confirms lodging civil damages claims against construction firms

The South African National Roads Agency SOC Limited can today confirm that it has lodged with the Gauteng Local Division High Court civil damages claims against the construction firms that were found guilty of collusive conduct by the Competition Authorities.

The total claims are between R600 and R760 million. Seven construction firms and the joint ventures they formed have been served papers. The agency argues that it

suffered damages and overcharges as a result of the companies’ collusive conduct.

“This follows months of hard work in quantifying the damages we suffered. Some of our detractors doubted our intention to file for damages, accusing us of delays, with

some going to the extent of suggesting the agency was colluding with the industry. But we had to be thorough in our assessment of the damages and were not going to be rushed into this action ill-prepared,” the agency’s spokesperson Vusi Mona said.

Mona clarified that the claims are not confined to the Gauteng Freeway Improvement Project but include works that were carried out in other parts of the country.

Roadworks continue in Port Elizabeth

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Source:Shutterstock

 

The South African National Roads Agency Ltd (SANRAL) would like to advise motorists that there will be night roadworks (resurfacing) taking place on the M4 on-ramp to Grahamstown. There will be a detour via Burman.

The roadworks are scheduled for the following nights:

–        Friday 6 May (19h00 to 05h00)

–        Saturday 7 May (19h00 to 05h00)

–        Monday 9 May (19h00 to 05h00)

There will simultaneously be roadworks on going on the William Moffett I/C bridge. Stop-and-go measures will be in place to allow traffic to continue passing over the bridge. Resurfacing is scheduled for the following nights:

–        Friday 6 May (19h00 to 05h00)

–        Saturday 7 May (19h00 to 05h00)

–        Monday 9 May (19h00 to 05h00)

Please note that there will always be an access route and exit route via the ramps of the intersection and/or bridges.

“Motorists are asked to plan their trips accordingly and to use caution when making use of the road,” said Mbulelo Peterson, SANRAL Southern Region’s Regional Manager.

SANRAL apologises for any inconvenience caused.

Blasting on the R61 in the Eastern Cape

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Source: Shutterstock

The R61 national route, between R61 All Saints and Baziya, in the Eastern Cape will be closed due to blasting scheduled to take place on three days in May between 1:45pm to 2:15pm.

Blasting is scheduled on the R61 National Route on the following days:

 

Date Time Area
Wednesday, 11 May 2pm Mputi
Thursday, 12 May 2pm Empindweni
Tuesday, 17 May 2pm Baziya Mission

 

The South African National Roads Agency SOC Limited (SANRAL) appeals to people living within a 600m radius of the blast area to gather at specific points for evacuation by Aveng Grinaker – LTA busses.

“The community liaison officer and ward councillors will notify residents of the evacuation gathering points,” said Mbulelo Peterson, SANRAL Southern Regional Manager.

SANRAL apologises for any inconvenience caused.

Blasting on the R61 between Cradock and Tarkastad

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Source: Shutterstock

Blasting is scheduled to take place at the quarry on the R61 between Cradock and Tarkastad on Thursday, 5 May between 2pm and 3pm. The quarry is located approximately 39km from the N10 at Cradock.

The South African National Roads Agency Limited (SANRAL) would like to notify motorists that the road will be closed for about one hour at the km 39 road marker. There are also three stop-go controls in operation between Cradock and Tarkastad.

“Motorists are asked to plan their trips accordingly and to use caution when making use of the road,” said Mbulelo Peterson, Sanral Southern Region’s Regional Manager.

SANRAL apologises for any inconvenience caused.

Striking TETI workers are not SANRAL employees

 

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Source: Shutterstock

It has been incorrectly reported in the various media platforms today that TETI workers, who are currently embarking on an industrial action, are SANRAL employees. SANRAL would like to emphasise that none of its employees are on strike. SANRAL employs 283 employees spread across the country in its four regional offices and Head Office, and most of them are engineers.

The striking workers are employed by Teti Traffic Pty Ltd, a traffic incidents management company contracted to SANRAL to manage traffic incidents on its freeway network in Gauteng.

“We are confident that TETI, together with SATAWU, which is negotiating on behalf of striking workers, will find an amicable solution very soon so that motorists are not severely affected by this action. Equally, we request the media to refrain from referring to these workers as SANRAL employees,” said Vusi Mona, SANRAL’s general manager for communications.

All labour-related matters are therefore between TETI and its employees, and SANRAL is in no way involved in the ensuing disputes. It is business as usual at SANRAL.

All media enquiries should be directed to TETI, as SANRAL does not have authority to comment on this strike.

However, as an interested party, SANRAL would like to see an agreement between the two parties being reached as soon as possible, so that normal traffic incident management can resume.

The Allandale Interchange is the largest free-flow intersection in Africa leading to largest single- phase mall in Southern Africa, The Mall of Africa,

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When people think about South Africa they think Table Mountain, the jacarandas sprawling across Johannesburg and Pretoria, the Valley of a Thousand Hills and the breath-taking sunsets of the Karoo.

But no one really thinks about the fact that South Africa is home to the biggest hospital in the world, the Chris Hani Baragwaneth Hospital or that South Africa houses the largest free-flow intersection in Africa, the Allandale Interchange, which leads to the largest single- phase mall in Southern Africa, The Mall of Africa, which opened its doors in Johannesburg on 28 April.

This is a development made possible because of easy access from the nearby world-class national highways.

The mall is co-owned by two South African property companies, Attacq (80%) and Atterbury (20%). Work began in October 2012 -that is three and a half years of construction and hopefully its establishment will live up to the anticipation it has created. The regional mall will be the iconic heart of Waterfall City, which is a R16 billion mixed-use property development that lies in the centre of Gauteng, with easy access to Johannesburg, Sandton and Pretoria.

The Mall of Africa boasts over 300 shops, with a well-balanced variety of local and international brands, services, retailers, entertainment and restaurants, while 6 500 parking bays will facilitate the anticipated public demand.

As reported by a local newspaper recently, developer, James Ehlers, said that accessibility to customers was a key factor in the mall’s development.

Easy access from Gauteng’s transport network is an inherent advantage of the mall as it is located at the Allandale Road exit from the N1 highway, part of the 21 451km of national roads constructed, maintained and managed by the South African National Roads Agency SOC Ltd (SANRAL).

The mall also lies a few kilometres from the Buccleuch interchange, where the province’s busiest national roads meet. The new Bridal Veil Road Bridge, which opened the same day as the mall, will form a direct link between Waterfall City and Midrand and will take customers to the doors of the mall.

But that’s not all that glitters along the N1. A new multibillion-rand, mixed-use commercial development similar to Waterfall City will arise on an estimated 85 hectare site at the junction of the N1 and the R21 highways in Pretoria by the same property company, Atterbury.

The South African skyline is continuously featuring construction cranes that are working on new infrastructure that  adds value to the country, create more jobs and invest in the future of all South Africans. The easily accessible Mall of Africa will become a landmark of growth and development and promises significant improvement in the economy of the country.

Blasting on the R61 in the Eastern Cape

Source: shutterstock
Source: Shutterstock

The R61 national route, between Coghlan and Baziya, in the Eastern Cape will be closed due to blasting scheduled to take place on three days in May between 1:45pm to 2:15pm.

Blasting is scheduled on the R61 National Route on the following days:

 

Date Time Area
Wednesday, 4 May 2pm Mputi
Wednesday, 11 May 2pm Empindweni
Thursday, 12 May 2pm Baziya Mission

 

The South African National Roads Agency SOC Limited (SANRAL) appeals to people living within a 600m radius of the blast area to gather at specific points for evacuation by Aveng Grinaker – LTA busses.

Residents will have to meet at the evacuation gathering points at 1:30 pm. The busses will drop off residents at about 2:45 pm.

“The community liaison officer and ward councillors will notify residents of the evacuation gathering points,” said Mbulelo Peterson, SANRAL Southern Regional Manager.

SANRAL apologises for any inconvenience caused.

Blasting operation between km 83.040 and km 83.520 on National Route N1 section 16 between Winburg Interchange and the Winburg Station, north of Bloemfontein.

Source: Shutterstock
Source: Shutterstock

The South African National Roads Agency Ltd (SANRAL) would like to notify travellers that a blasting operation is scheduled to take place between the Winburg Interchange and the Winburg Station on the N1 between km 83.040 and km 83.520 on Wednesday 4 May at approximately 3pm.

The N1 will be closed approximately between 2.30pm and 3.30pm. However, the blasting time may need to be adjusted depending on weather conditions on the day. If need be, a second notice with information of the new time will be made available.

 Due to the close proximity of the blast site to the Winburg interchange, it will be necessary to close the Winburg interchange to all traffic during the blast operation.

 As a result, there will be no alternate access through Winburg. However, steps will be taken to ensure that the N1 is closed for the shortest possible time.

Meanwhile, motorists can make use of the R30/R34 toll road between Glen Lyon and Kroonstad as an alternative route during the N1 closure.

The patience and co-operation of motorists will be appreciated.