More than 200 people were employed on the project. Training was provided to 136 local labourers of which 73 were women.
The South African National Roads Agency (SOC) Limited (SANRAL) has completed its roadworks on the N2 from Komgha River to Grahamstown and Keiskamma Pass to Keiskamma River.
The R96-million project, which lasted for 14 months, entailed resurfacing the road, construction of culvert inlet and outlet structures, installation of drains, and replacement of bridge joints.
SANRAL also cleared dense vegetation along fence lines to protect the fence from fire damage. It also repaired the entire fence line to ensure livestock does not enter the road reserve.
Mbulelo Peterson, SANRAL Southern Region Manager, said: “We are pleased to announce the completion of the resurfacing of 41km of the N2 section between Komgha River and Grahamstown [and] the N2 section 14 from Keiskamma Pass to Keiskamma River.
“The expected road maintenance lifespan is between eight to 10 years before any major maintenance work will be carried out on the road. Other benefits of the upgrading will result in a smoother riding surface with less wear and tear on vehicles.”
More than 200 people were employed on the project. Training was provided to 136 local labourers of which 73 were women.
“The contractor had set aside traffic accommodation, guard rail repairs, bush clearing, fencing and rest area improvement work for target enterprise sub-contractors,” said Peterson. “Four Target Enterprise subcontractors were engaged on the project with a total expenditure of approximately R11.7-million. Of these, three were women-owned companies with a combined expenditure of approximately R10.2-million.”
In addition to the formal training, the contractor’s personnel provided on-going on-the-job training and mentoring.
The formal courses included training in traffic accommodation (Flagman STOP/GO), traffic accommodation (Flagman stop/Go/Radio), first aid, occupational health and safety, financial life skills and roadside safety for construction workers.
The Mtentu Bridge is set to knock the Bloukrans Bridge off the pedestal of being the highest bridge in South Africa and one of the highest in the world.
The South Africa National Roads Agency (SOC) Limited (SANRAL) has awarded the tender for the much anticipated Mtentu Bridge, which forms part of the N2 Wild Coast road (N2WC) project.
Construction of the bridge is set to start in early November 2017, and is scheduled to run approximately 40 months.
Vusi Mona, SANRAL’s communications manager, said: “The tender, valued at R1.634-billion, has been awarded to the Aveng Strabag Joint Venture (JV). The JV partners consist of Aveng Grinaker-LTA, a major South African-based construction company and Strabag, a leading construction company in Europe with extensive experience in major balanced cantilever methodology bridge construction.”
At just over one kilometre, the Mtentu Bridge will be one of the longest main span balanced cantilever bridges in the world and will reach a height of approximately 220m. It is the first of its kind in South Africa at such a magnitude.
“Critically, it is going to create employment and business opportunities in the area. The whole of the project will be a growth engine for the Eastern Cape both during and post construction,” Mona said.
A major undertaking
The construction of the bridge in a remote location is a major undertaking that requires specialised engineering skills and building techniques.
The bridge forms the backbone of the greenfields portion of the N2WC road project, which is coordinated and directed by the Presidential Infrastructure Coordinating Commission. It is one of government’s 18 Strategic Integrated Projects that support economic development and address service delivery in the poorest provinces.
The Mtentu Bridge and the overall greenfields portion of the N2WC road project will improve travel time, connect previously divided communities in the region and open up opportunities in business and community-based tourism for the Wild Coast.
Mona said: “By improving the travel time between Durban and East London by up to three hours for heavy freight and by providing a high mobility route through an area that is extremely isolated and underserved by road infrastructure, the route will have significant social and economic benefits and will act as a catalyst for local and regional development.”
Job creation
The N2WC road project will be a major job creator in an area with an extremely high unemployment rate.
SANRAL’s direct job creation forecast is 1.8 million man-days or 8 000 full time equivalent jobs over the four to five year construction period.
More than R400-million will be allocated to wages for unskilled, semi-skilled and skilled workers employed directly on the N2WC road project. A further R1.5-billion is destined for local SMMEs comprising local contractors and local suppliers of goods and services to the road and bridge construction projects.
“SANRAL’s R120-million community development and SMME training programme, which is currently underway, is providing local labour and local SMMEs with the necessary skills to optimally participate in this and other forthcoming N2WC road project,” said Mona.
New tender
Meanwhile, SANRAL has announced that the tender for the Msikaba Bridge, set for construction near Lusikisiki, will be retendered as the agency received no fully responsive tenders.
“The SANRAL Board resolved that the roads agency was obliged to retender the bridge rather than condone matters of non-compliance found in the bids that were received,” said Mona.
A new tender for the Msikaba Bridge will be advertised within the next two to three months.
SANRAL is working with the community and the town council of Griekwastad to make the roads pedestrian friendly.
The South African National Roads Agency (SOC) Limited is making roads safer for residents of Griekwastad thanks to a new community development project.
The small town, with its 6 000 inhabitants, straddles the N8 between Groblershoop and Kimberley in the Northern Cape.
SANRAL Project Manager, Imelda Julies, said the plan was to make the road more pedestrian friendly. With the help of the community and the town council, it was agreed that the N8 (which carries a large amount of heavy-vehicle traffic) should be made safer, so that it can cater for vulnerable road users such as children, the elderly and people with disabilities.
Julies said a concept plan has been accepted and the project is in the design phase.
“This phase will include consultation with the local town council and members of the community. Once the process has been completed, we will move to construction.”
Gideon Witbooi, a resident of Griekwastad, who has been a foreman at the Siyancuma Local Municipality for 42 years, said he was particularly excited about the agency’s plans to improve the pedestrian infrastructure in town.
Witbooi said that trucks often speed through the town with no regard for pedestrians or other traffic.
“Also, when it rains, storm water runs everywhere. We are very pleased with SANRAL’s plans and are looking forward to seeing the improvements,” he said.
There are businesses situated along both sides of the N8 and any upgrades for pedestrians would also include parking spaces for vehicles visiting the businesses.
Julies said: “Included in the proposal is the upgrading of the sidewalks, high visibility signs, safe pedestrian crossings, parking spaces and the upgrading of the storm water drainage in the town.”
According to Chris Hlabisa, private vehicle ownership accelerates at an even faster pace as more people move into the middle class and the impact of these trends on traffic patterns should not be underestimated.
Successful delivery of mega housing projects and substantial investments in tourism in Gauteng will be largely dependent on the quality of the road infrastructure in the province.
A vision for Gauteng
Over the past three years, Premier David Makhura has laid out his vision for a much more integrated Gauteng city region, where partnerships among the public sector, business, labour and civil society will determine both the direction and pace of development.
One of the consequential announcements he made concerns the envisaged development of 31 mega housing projects, to be delivered within the medium-term framework. From earlier announcements on this plan, it is clear that each of these developments will yield no fewer than 15 000 units, either within an existing cluster, or as a new nodal development project.
Such projects will have inevitable impacts on all aspects of mobility in the province. At SANRAL, we have to calculate this into our medium- and long-term planning for the upgrading of the existing network and the planning and construction of new freeways.
Premier Makhura’s multi-pronged approach to ensuring Gauteng’s mobility remains at the core of future planning processes is welcome. It contains a combination of policy choices to curb urban sprawl, densification along transit nodes, initiatives to address the spatial legacies of apartheid and substantial investments in quality public transport, both within the individual cities and between the urban metros.
Passenger rail, the Gautrain, bus rapid transit systems, commuter buses and taxis are all elements of this mix. But so are roads, especially the planning, construction and funding model for expansions to the existing Gauteng freeway network.
The province’s own projections, as contained in the Gauteng 2055 Vision, show sustained population growth over the next decade, from the current 13.2-million people to 15.5-million in 2020 and 18.7-million a decade later. Already 88% of the total freight tonnage in South Africa is transported on roads and 94% of daily motorised trips are road-based.
Private vehicle ownership accelerates at an even faster pace as more people move into the middle class. The impact of these trends on traffic patterns should not be underestimated.
And the importance of the national and provincial road networks as the primary transport arteries should not be taken lightly when long-term plans for densification, public transport and rapid rail systems are being implemented.
SANRAL does not see the construction of more freeways and additional roads as a panacea for urban mobility or a cure for congestion.
The issues are too complex to be reduced to single-faceted responses. Similarly, any solution that reduces the importance of well-managed roads – and a planned process of new freeway development – also fails to take into account the realities of the regional economy.
The impact of the Gauteng Freeway Improvement Project
The direct impact of modern freeways on a regional economy is well-illustrated by the developments that followed the construction of the Gauteng Freeway Improvement Project (GFIP).
The success of major recent residential developments such as Heritage Hill near Rooihuiskraal, Waterfall City next to the Allandale Road off-ramp and Serengeti Estate in Ekurhuleni can be directly attributed to the availability of an upgraded freeway, while extensions to major retail centres such as Menlyn and Mall of Africa would not have been feasible without GFIP.
A global study based on the 2016 TomTom Traffic Index recently found that Johannesburg is no longer the most congested city in sub-Saharan Africa and that improvements in traffic movement can be attributed directly to the construction of GFIP, the introduction of open-road tolling and the addition of intelligent transport systems linked to SANRAL’s management of the network.
Some of the most exciting recent announcements made by Premier Makhura to grow Gauteng’s tourism potential – and the province’s role as a regional logistics hub – are heavily dependent on the extension of the freeway network.
Plans for the extension of the GFIP network through the addition of 158km of new road and upgrades to 223km have been on the drawing board for some time. These roads will further reduce traffic pressures near OR Tambo airport and contribute to the growth of the area, identified as a priority corridor by the Gauteng government.
Funding
How these freeways are to be funded will be decided by the national government, in consultation with the province. SANRAL is an agency of the South African government and implements policy that has been decided on by cabinet including the ‘user pay’ principle as defined in the National Development Plan.
Different opinions over funding should, however, not delay the planning and preparations for the construction of GFIP stages two and three. It will take an estimated five years for construction to start once the green light for the programme has been given.
Construction will have to be preceded by more rounds of public consultation, updated environmental impact assessments, land acquisitions and procurement processes.
In the meantime, congestion in parts of Gauteng that are vital to the implementation of the Gauteng Vision 2055 is building up. If this is not addressed, a traffic situation can soon develop similar to that which existed prior to the start of construction on the current GFIP network.
SANRAL looks forward to working together with the Gauteng government to develop an infrastructure network that is, in the words of Premier Makhura, “the lifeblood of the province’s social and economic transformation agenda”.
This is an opinion piece by Chris Hlabisa, a SANRAL Board Member.
This is the first time that SANRAL has incorporated virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality technology in an awareness campaign.
The South African National Roads Agency (SOC) Limited (SANRAL) has embarked on a public awareness initiative in the Eastern Cape to educate road users and communities on the N2 Wild Coast Road project.
An exhibition providing a visual representation of the much-anticipated road is currently on display at the Port Elizabeth Airport.
The display at the airport ended on 7 August. The Port St Johns activations will be from 14 to 18 August. The display was at the Greenacres Shopping Centre’s food court in Port Elizabeth in July. The display was also in East London in June with more than 900 people visiting the stand, before heading to Port Elizabeth.
This is the first time that SANRAL has incorporated virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality technology in an awareness campaign. These were used to give road users an idea of the two mega bridges, the Msikaba and Mtentu, to be built in the Wild Coast.
User experience
Collin Randall, an author from Port Elizabeth said the virtual reality experience has been “very exotic”.
“This has been an amazing experience. It makes South Africa a richer place. The most important thing about the N2 Wild Coast, except for the economic benefits is that it will save lives,” he said.
Sigqibo Ngqezana, from Dwesi Extension in Port Elizabeth said this was the first time he experienced virtual reality. “Wow, it was truly an amazing experience. I loved the fact that I could see the bridge holistically. This is very exciting. I think the N2 Wild Coast project will benefit the Eastern Cape tremendously,” he said.
Charles Meintjies, who works as a car salesman in Port Elizabeth welcomed the project. “I used to travel between East London and Mthatha for about more than three hours. I also used to work in the Transkei area and remember that the roads were very bad,” he said.
Zukile Manyela who lives in Port Elizabeth, is very positive about the N2WCTR. “The project will benefit me because I travel a lot. I have been praying for this for years. I am very relieved because this means I can reach Durban quicker. I love the coastal route. Plus it’s safer. We can get to explore the beauty of the Wild Coast,” he said.
Jobs being created on the project stands out for Any Ntwanambi. “People in that area need this. I think it will be good for the Eastern Cape. I love what SANRAL is doing for us as the people,” said Ntwanambi.
“I have educated myself about this on the SANRAL Facebook page. I am really excited about this project.” said Willie van Heerden, a construction project manager in Port Elizabeth.
“I think this will be beneficial to the people in the area as it will boost them economically. [It] will assist with things like overgrazing which are currently a problem in that area as it will give them more space. It will make the Wild Coast more visible. This will spark an interest and more people are going to go there. I think progress is good,” he said.
Progress made
Some of the progress over the last six months included the awarding of three contracts for the training of SMMEs and the construction of local access roads, which has started in Port St Johns, Ingquza Hill and Mbizana.
Contracts for the construction of four haul roads to the bridge sites, including the relocation of affected houses and graves, will be complete by October. Tenders for the construction of the Msikaba and Mtenu bridges are currently in adjudication.
The Environmental Authorities Coordinating Committee and the Environmental Monitoring Committee have conducted two site inspections to the construction haul roads. They monitored progress and compliance with the Environmental Record of Decision and the approved Environmental Management Programme.
An independent environmental auditor was recently appointed to add further muscle to the environmental oversight on the project.
World-class bridges
The Msikaba River Bridge will consist of a cable-stayed 580-metre-long structure spanning a deep gorge. The Mtentu River Bridge, also on the N2 Wild Coast Toll Road and around 12km to the north of the Msikaba River, will be a multi-spanned concrete structure approximately 1,130 metres long. It will comprise a 260-metre main span and two 150-metre secondary spans constructed as a balanced cantilever on the two main piers that will be approximately 160-metre high. A further total of 570 metres of approach viaducts will be constructed on either side of the central three spans using incremental launching methods.
The Mtentu Bridge will be higher than the Bloukrans Bridge, making it the highest bridge in Africa and the southern hemisphere once complete. The main span of the Msikaba Bridge at 580 metres will be the longest main span in Africa and the southern hemisphere. There are however other bridges in the southern hemisphere and Africa that have longer total spans.
Wild coast
The N2WCTR project is a 410km upgrade of roads from East London to Port Edward. It includes a brand new section of road between Port St Johns and Port Edward via Lusikisiki where currently very little road infrastructure exists due to the numerous deep gorges in the area.
The project is set to change the face of the remote coastal area between Port St Johns and Port Edward and significantly improve the prospects of its impoverished communities. The project will also see bypasses built around Idutywa and Butterworth, both of which are infamous for their traffic congestion and long delays at peak times.
The new route will save approximately 85km and up to three hours driving time between Durban and East London compared to the present one.
The new road is expected to deliver:
Job creation
Improved service delivery and access to towns and services
Improved connection to family and friends
Better job opportunities and education facilities
Significantly faster travel times and lower transportation costs
A major positive impact on the economies of local towns
Major conventional tourism and eco-tourism opportunities
For each subsection of the road there will be community development components in the form of local access roads, pedestrian facilities, community halls and small businesses like brick-making and concrete product yards.
The N2WCTR is an integrated and catalytic development, empowerment and upliftment project of the Presidential Infrastructure Coordinating Commission (PICC).
The new route will also open up new and alternative economic opportunities for the residents of the municipalities of Port St Johns, Ingquza Hill and Mbizana – statistically, three of the poorest municipalities in the country. These opportunities may include conventional tourism, eco-tourism, agriculture and other business opportunities both locally and regionally.
Minister of Transport, Joe Maswanganyi visited the site on the N3 where an unused pedestrian bridge collapsed.
The Minister of Transport, Joe Maswanganyi, visited the site on the N3 where an unused pedestrian bridge collapsed in the early hours of 9 August 2017.
The incident had resulted in a full closure of the N3 north and southbound between the M2 Gildenhuys and N3 Gillooly’s interchanges.
Minister Maswanganyi said government was relieved that no fatalities had occurred.
“We are however saddened that five people were injured, three seriously with one in a critical condition. On behalf of government, we wish those who were injured a speedy recovery. Through our agencies, we shall reach out to them to offer the necessary assistance”, said Maswanganyi.
A forensic investigation to determine the cause of the collapse is underway. The Minister appealed that the investigation should be allowed to take place and discouraged any uninformed speculation as to the cause of the bridge collapse.
Following a briefing Minister Maswanganyi received from SANRAL, the Ekurhuleni Metro and officials from the Gauteng Provincial Government assurances about the safety of the road, the road is now open.
“I commend SANRAL for the work it has done in clearing the debris in as short a period of time as possible. This has ensured that we minimise the disruption of traffic flow on a route with an average daily traffic of 200 000 vehicles. Delays in opening the road would have greatly inconvenienced thousands of motorists and delayed the movement of freight on what is one of our busiest roads in Gauteng,” said Maswanganyi.
Maswanganyi also commends all officials from the three spheres of government for the cooperation they displayed from the time the incident was reported and during the rescue and clearing operations.
“Their display of cooperative governance was admirable,” he said.
The Minister also thanked the media for keeping road users informed about the incident.
Incremental launching is a relatively recent method of building a complete bridge and can save time, money, space and disruption while easing access and delivering a high-quality finish.
Champagne was popped on 4 August 2017 when, after two-and-half years since they first began extending progressively towards each other, the north and south decks of the one-kilometre ramp of the Mount Edgecombe Interchange were joined.
While motorists went about their way negotiating the labyrinth of deviations below the multidirectional bridges being constructed, history was unfolding more than 20 metres above them when the longest incrementally launched bridge in South Africa neared completion.
The one-kilometre long bridge forms part of the improvements being undertaken by the South African National Roads Agency (SOC) Limited (SANRAL) at the N2/M41 Mount Edgecombe Interchange north of Durban, connecting Phoenix and uMhlanga with Durban and the north coast of KwaZulu-Natal.
Innovative methods
Incremental launching is a relatively recent method of building a complete bridge and can save time, money, space and disruption while easing access and delivering a high-quality finish.
It involves casting 12-30 metre long sections of the bridge superstructure in a stationary formwork behind an abutment and pushing a completed section forward along the bridge axis. The sections are cast contiguously and then stressed together.
Corne’ Roux, project manager for SANRAL Eastern Region, said due to the expansion of the uMhlanga and La Lucia Ridge areas, the existing interchange had been operating at capacity with vehicles backing up on the M41 and onto the N2 in peak hours.
“An additional 40 000 vehicles enter or leave the N2 from the M41 daily resulting in substantial queuing of vehicles during the day,” said Roux. “This, together with expected future expansions and anticipated development of the Cornubia area, required the existing interchange to be upgraded in order to improve the flow to and from the N2 and M41 to the supporting road network.”
He added that the Mount Edgecombe interchange upgrade has changed the landscape forever and is sure to become a well-known landmark in years to come.
“Constructing one of the longest structures ever built in South Africa over one of the busiest intersections in KwaZulu-Natal successfully, without ever closing any of the roads permanently, bears testimony to the success of the selected construction methods and materials,” he said.
The intricacies
Gert van Schalkwyk, resident engineer for the main consulting engineers SMEC South Africa, said Bridge B0215 has a deck length of 947 metres, which not only makes it the longest incrementally launched bridge in the Southern hemisphere, but also one of the longest structures in South Africa.
It has a total number of 23 piers of which the highest is 26 metres with typical spans of 42 metres and the longest span of 50.5 metres.
What sets B0215 apart from anything else previously or currently being done in South Africa is not only its sheer size and length, but also the fact the bridge is constructed in two decks which are both incrementally launched from opposite sides with the intention to meet in the centre.
Van Schalkwyk said: “Ensuring that the two decks would meet up after each individual deck was launched was a very challenging exercise and took some innovative engineering and design.
“The deck was modelled on AutoCAD in 3D to accurately plot the launching path of the deck during construction. This model was used by the surveyors to set out and track the bridge within 1mm of its design trajectory, alignment and level.
“A total of three surveyors were present during each of the launching operations to ensure live tracking of the front and back of the deck as well as provide constant verification of their surveys.”
Both decks were successfully launched into their final position and completed in July 2016. The decks were launched to within five metres from each other: the last five metres of deck was cast insitu and is referred to as the “stitch” which neatly and monolithically joins the decks together.
Final piece of the puzzle
Like the final piece of a giant Lego puzzle, it was the stitch that was placed in position on 4 August.
“The final position of the decks, transversely, was 7mm from the design position and nought millimetres difference in level from the design level,” said Van Schalkwyk.
“Given the size of the decks and the fact these decks were launched from the two opposite ends of the site, this accurate final position is a testimony of the workmanship and world class engineering capabilities in South Africa,”
“The positioning of the stitch between the north and south ramps to close the gap may well be considered as the crowning achievement and is testament to not only design excellence but also implementation,” he said.
High school learners from Nelson Mandela Bay attended a scholarship induction at SANRAL offices.
High school learners from Nelson Mandela Bay, who were selected to receive scholarships from the South African National Roads Agency (SOC) Limited (SANRAL), have the chance to make their engineering dreams come true thanks to the agency’s bursary programme.
During an event at SANRAL’s award-winning green building in Port Elizabeth, scholarship holders from grade 10 to grade 12 and their parents got the opportunity to hear about the bursaries offered by the roads agency.
Speaking at the event were SANRAL’s Centre of Excellence programme managers in training candidates, Coenraad Claassens and Lwanda Sigaji. Both are SANRAL bursary recipients.
“Prioritise your time properly and don’t be afraid to ask questions,” said Sigaji.
Even though Sigaji was not a scholarship recipient she said the SANRAL bursary was a “breath of fresh air for me and my family, it helped. Hard work pays. I’ve worked hard to prove myself,” she said.
Claassens advised the learners to question why they want to become engineers. “Have a clear picture why you want to be an engineer and hold onto it,” he said.
“There is a big jump from high school to university. The workload is a lot different. It took me a year to get used to everything. It is important to remember that you have to get good grades in high school. As engineers, we solve problems with maths and science,” Claassens advised the learners.
Scholarship recipients speak
Miekaeel Ryneveld, a grade 11 learner from Alexander Road High School, said he was very happy to have received the scholarship.
“I want to study engineering. I am just not sure what type of engineering,” Ryneveld said. His maths average is 90%.
“I work hard and I get good grades. The scholarship is a big help when it comes to paying school fees, books and winter and summer uniforms,” he said.
Ilke van Vuuren dreams of becoming a civil engineer. The 17-year-old from Despatch High School said she loves the idea of building new bridges.
“I want to know how to build bridges and roads…There will be stumbling blocks but you must have faith all goes well,” she said.
Alison Adams from the Northern Areas in Port Elizabeth, who also goes to Alexander Road, said the SANRAL scholarship has assisted her through her grade 11 year tremendously.
“I am very grateful. This has helped us financially. I am not an only child and I was very happy I could take the burden off my parents. I am very grateful for this scholarship.”
While participating in the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Pipeline Project (STEM PP), she discovered the scholarship and applied.
“This has motivated me to work so much harder. I make sure that I do my best in these activities and with my grades. If I commit to something I see it through, that’s my motto.
“I am grateful for this event. Before listening to the project engineers in training I was going to pursue a career in science, but I am now considering pursuing a career in civil engineering,” she said.
Luzuko Mavela from KwaDwesi also learned about the scholarship through the STEM in Action project. He then applied and was awarded the scholarship.
Mavela’s dream to become a chemical engineer or a civil engineer pushed him to earn the scholarship. “This has been a blessing. It has been more than a financial relief for my family. My parents can now focus their money elsewhere.
“This has pushed me beyond my limits. It has motivated me to pursue my goals head on.
“I am involved in a number of activities including drama and music. I just have to make sure I manage my time well.”
Framesby High School head boy, Tiaan Coetzee, is grateful for STEM in Action as it exposed him to the scholarship opportunity.
Coetzee is interested in a career in mechatronics and mechanical engineering. “I would like to study here at Nelson Mandela University,” he said. “I currently have rugby and cricket as my extramural activities. I, however, make sure my school work does not suffer.
“This scholarship has meant my parents are able to save for my university fees. It has helped me out with my current fees, books, sport equipment and school uniform.
Increase in beneficiaries
Nationally, SANRAL has increased the number of scholarship beneficiaries from 172 in 2014/15 to 196 in 2015/16. Spending on the programme also rose, albeit in proportion to the increase in beneficiaries, from R2.37-million to R2.99-million.
The programme pays for school fees, school uniform, books and stationery costs. It also covers additional mathematics classes at the Nelson Mandela University Missionvale campus where they attend the STEM PP.
Learners can apply for the SANRAL scholarship programme, which supports academically deserving applicants in grades 10 to 12. The minimum requirements are an overall aggregate of 75% – with at least 70% in mathematics and science and 65% in English.
SANRAL, a PIARC member for the past 18 years, has a strong presence in the various working structures of the association.
Transport infrastructure – road, rail, shipping and air cargo – will be a vital ingredient of the free trade agreement that 26 Africans countries are rapidly finalising.
In early July this year, a preferential trade agreement was signed in Uganda between the Southern African Development Community, the East African Community and the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa.
Its aim is to boost intra-African trade, which is currently low compared to other world regions.
The state of roads in Africa are already a priority. The global roads body, Permanent International Association of Road Congresses (PIARC), also known as World Road Association, is presently focusing on African highway networks as well as updating design standards for rural roads.
These will be vital arteries in boosting intra-regional trade among the member countries, which have a combined population of 625-million and a total GDP of US$1.6-trillion (R212-trillion).
How SANRAL fits in
SANRAL plays a vital role in the World Road Association, a non-profit organisation established in 1909. It brings together governments, regional authorities, collective members and individual representatives from 122-member countries with the aim of promoting international cooperation on issues related to roads and road transport.
SANRAL, a PIARC member for the past 18 years, has a strong presence in the various working structures of the association.
At the helm of the South African delegation is SANRAL chief executive officer, Skhumbuzo Macozoma. He is also a member of the PIARC Council, which is responsible for governance matters.
SANRAL manager for Planning, Toll and Transport, Alex van Niekerk, is also a member and was elected to PIARC’s executive committee earlier this year.
He explained that the committee is responsible for PIARC’s administration in accordance with policies approved by the council. It is supported by three commissions – strategic planning, finance and communication – and the general secretariat, and it also actions recommendations by an advisory group on emerging issues.
“SANRAL’s participation on PIARC conferences and technical forums also enhances the development of the road sector in South Africa,” said Van Niekerk. “For instance, we are exposed to global industry best practices which in turn inform our adjustments to South African design standards related to the road sector.
“In specialised areas like bridges and tunnels, our PIARC experience does not only enhance the existing knowledge in South Africa but also contributes to the growth of the private sector through improved design standards, design principles and construction processes.”
He added that the work of the association is guided by a four-year strategic plan, which is aligned to the needs of member countries.
Activities and research of PIARC
For the 2016-2019 cycle, PIARC has packaged its activities and research under five strategic themes: management and finance, access and mobility, safety, infrastructure, and climate change, environment and disasters.
According to PIARC’s strategic plan, these themes represent a continuation of work that remains at the core of the body’s interest.
As such, one of the PIARC’s task forces is focusing on innovative finance, under the management and finance theme. It is currently working on identifying, reviewing, and evaluating alternative, available road funding and financing models which include tolling, public-private-partnerships, use of credit assistance tools and bonds.
“This work is particularly significant considering funding sources have not always kept pace with road investment needs,” said Van Niekerk.
In terms of PIARC’s focus on finding solutions for Africa, the African Regional Task Force is addressing two topics in this current four-year cycle: design standards for the Trans-African Highway network and updating design standards for rural roads.
PIARC task force at SANRAL tunnel seminar
This year SANRAL welcomes delegates attending a seminar on tunnels in October. Titled “Road Tunnels in Low and Medium Income Countries”, the seminar will feature speakers covering a wide range of road tunnel operation subjects from safety design and operations of tunnels, sustainable funding for safe tunnels and tunnel construction choices.
PIARC’s task force will be at the seminar covering case studies on The Huguenot Tunnel Project, which constitutes a major transportation link between the coastal plains of the Western Cape and the interior. The tunnel is one of the most strategic infrastructure assets of South Africa’s national road network.
The 3,9km long tunnel reduces the distance between Paarl and Worcester by 11km and eliminates a climb of some 500m over the Du Toitskloof Pass, which, by nature, imposes severe constraints and safety concerns for the road user.
A total of 19 representatives from SANRAL serve on various technical committees. These drive the study and development of knowledge in areas such as intelligent transportation systems, transport system economics and social development, environmental considerations in road projects and operations, as well as design and operations of safer road infrastructure.
Considering there are 4.2-million registered vehicles in Gauteng and 1.49-million vehicle trips recorded on the e-toll road network daily, lighting is very important.
There are some 16 000 lights on the inner-Gauteng freeways, 90% of which SANRAL manages to keep burning continuously. Without them, motorists will be less safe.
Maintaining this target does not only contribute to the safety of motorists, it is a cost-effective measure designed to reduce the number of motor vehicle accidents on highways at night. It also saves costs when it comes to emergency services, maintenance and repair costs, and more important, loss of life.
Hardy Johnson, head of SANRAL’s Electrical Maintenance in the Northern Region (Gauteng, Mpumalanga, Limpopo and North West), said: “A fundamental aspect of ensuring safety of all road users is visibility: ensuring road users can see the entire road surface clearly and can also be seen by other road users at any time of day.
“Having well-lit freeways enables people to drive home safely late at night without finding it too stressful.”
Considering there are 4.2-million registered vehicles in Gauteng and 1.49-million vehicle trips recorded on the e-toll road network daily, lighting is very important.
Johnson adds: “Besides ensuring improved visibility, highway lighting also improves accessibility; the ease with which road users can travel between destinations. It also enhances mobility, which refers to the ability to reach a destination with minimum delay.
“Maintaining the lights on our freeways is not without [its] challenges as the lights are subjected to damage from accidents, theft, weather and power outages. But at SANRAL we manage to keep our burn rate above 90% for the benefit of all who use our roads.”
