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Transport month launched

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The use of public transport is being promoted by the Department of Roads and Transport. (Image: Arrive Alive)

 

October is Transport Month in South Africa and this was declared in 2005 during the Transport Lekgotla.

Launched on 3 October 2016 in Tshwane, Transport Month will be hosted under the theme: “Together we move South Africa Forward.”

The month-long programme will showcase transport infrastructure projects, promote the use of public transport and advance the country’s road safety initiatives.

Gauteng MEC for Roads and Transport, Ismail Vadi, said: “Government has made huge investments and will continue to invest in road infrastructure and public transport, which is safe, reliable, affordable, and accessible.

“The goal of course is to incentivise commuters of every socio-economic category to travel on public transport. This is good for our environment; it eases traffic congestion and promotes wellness.”

The provincial Department of Roads and Transport will later this month distribute 2 000 bicycles in Ekurhuleni to encourage young people to take up cycling.

“We must imagine and create and live an alternative to the current car-centric nature of many cities across the globe,” said Vadi.

The city of Tshwane has also signed the “Clean Bus Declaration” and is committed to having 40% of its bus fleet converted to clean technologies by 2020.

Vadi said: “This will include buses powered by compressed natural gas (CNG) and other combination of zero emission capable vehicles. We will recall that the first CNG bus was launched in Tshwane in November 2015.”

A strategic project

A 35 kilometre long road to support the development of an Aerotropolis at the OR Tambo International Airport and the Tambo-Springs Freight and Logistics Hub is also being planned by the Department of Roads and Transport.

Vadi said the construction of PWV15 should be looked at as a strategic project.

He said: “We prioritise the maintenance and expansion of our road network precisely because it is an enabler of broader economic growth, job creation and the empowerment of small and medium enterprises.

“Apart from alleviating traffic congestion on the existing road network, it will accelerate the development of the Aerotropolis and the Tambo-Springs Logistics Hub, and enhance the adjacent land value along the route for housing, industrial and commercial development.”

PWV15 will relieve traffic pressure at the Gillooly’s Interchange, which has been upgraded by the South African National Roads Agency Limited (SANRAL) through the Gauteng Freeway Improvement Project.

Vadi added that it would serve as a catalyst to modernise the road network in the eastern corridor, unlock economic opportunities through the revitalisation of the manufacturing sector in Ekurhuleni as well as allow for the free flow of freight traffic from the N3 to the N1 freeways.

SANRAL saves rare flora

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Aloe Arborescens is just one of the plant species that have been saved during the construction. (Image: Wikipedia)

 

The South African National Roads Agency Limited (SANRAL) and the eThekwini Municipality Environmental Planning Department have worked together to ensure that road development does not affect rare flora in the area.

The Hammarsdale interchange on the busy N3 is being upgraded and several plant species, including a range of specially protected bulbs and aloes had to be moved to a temporary nursery to save them from being destroyed.

These include: aloe arborescens, aloe ferox, aleo maculate, ledebouria floribunda, ledebouria ovativfloia and hypoxis hemerocallidea.

SANRAL encourages planting partnerships in its quest to re-populate the road reserve to a similar state it was in before construction.

Jason Lowe, SANRAL’s Eastern Region project manager, said: “These plants lay within the limits of the construction works and needed to be removed to avoid being damaged and destroyed.

“In keeping with SANRAL’s approach to environmental management based on its commitment to enhancing eco-efficiency and identifying and managing or eliminating environmental risks, biodiversity assets at the project site needed to be secured.”

The project’s goal is to transform the economic landscape, create new jobs and strengthen the delivery of basic services.

Managing grassland and vegetation

Part of the area falls within the Durban Metropolitan Open Space System (D’MOSS) which manages grassland and any vegetated areas along the N3.

An environmentalist was brought in and highlighted areas and the type of indigenous plants most likely to be found within the project limits.

The plants were identified and marked for removal and safe keeping until construction was complete.

A plant specialist was engaged to carefully remove the plants as different species have different removal techniques to ensure no damage occurs and to allow for replanting when required.

Lowe said: “All plants that were removed were carefully replanted in temporary plastic bags. The plants were grouped according to type of species and will be watered accordingly.”

The plants will remain at the temporary nursery until the construction is completed in their respective areas around June 2018.

Heavy traffic predicted

The development of the Keystone Park Light Industrial, Warehousing and Logistics Precinct at Hammarsdale, is located within the Primary Growth Corridor between Durban and Pietermaritzburg, identified in terms of the Provincial Spatial Economic Development Strategy.

This will mean an increase in the volume of traffic – especially heavy vehicles – using the interchange.

The intersection of the N3 and MR 385 will be upgraded from a simple diamond interchange to a new semi-parclo (partial cloverleaf) free flow interchange.

The upgrade will include the realignment of the MR 385 as well as the demolition of the existing structure once the new structure and relocated MR385 is complete and opened to traffic.

The new interchange will also accommodate the proposed widening of the N3 between Durban and Pietermaritzburg to eight lanes.

SANRAL’s technological approach

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South Africa’s national freeways represent an integrated transport solution that adds value to the surrounding infrastructure, improves the quality of life of commuters and sustains the economy of the country. (Image: Wikipedia)

 

The South African National Roads Agency (SANRAL) is committed to technological innovation in its quest to make South Africa’s roads truly efficient and effective.

South Africa’s National Development Plan, or Vision 2030, makes provision for an infrastructure network that is efficient, competitive and responsive, which is why the intelligent transport system (ITS) operated in Western Cape, Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal uses telecommunication technology to relay real-time information on the flow of traffic.

According to SANRALS’s 2016 Annual Report: “South Africa’s national freeways represent an integrated transport solution that adds value to the surrounding infrastructure, improves the quality of life of commuters and sustains the economy of the country.”

Gauteng Freeway Management System

During 2015/16 the Gauteng Freeway Management System (FMS) facilitated coordinated responses to more than 22 300 incidents, including 4 342 collisions.

There was a 25% improvement in incident detection time compared to 2014/15 and, on average, incidents were detected within three minutes of occurring. This success was largely due to the ongoing training of role-players, monthly incident debriefings of on-scene personnel, and the refinement of standard operating procedures.

SANRAL’s dedicated On Road Service (ORS) Unit, with 10 incident response vehicles, 10 light towing vehicles, eight heavy recovery units, and six motorcycles for medical response played a significant role in achieving rapid response times. The ORS Unit responded to an average of 905 incidents a month. This figure represented an increase of 11% on the 2014/15 response rate.

KwaZulu-Natal Freeway Management System

The KwaZulu-Natal FMS covers the busiest 120km of the N2 and N3 freeways. Its traffic management centre dealt with approximately 12 000 traffic incidents, including 1 450 crashes in 2015/16. Stationary vehicles accounted for about 57% of incidents, while 15% related to traffic congestion and 12% were crashes.

KwaZulu-Natal’s FMS comprises 144 cameras, 26 variable message signboards and 59 radar vehicle detector stations. All communicate via a high-speed fibre optic system to a traffic management centre at the SANRAL offices in Pietermaritzburg.

The system has enhanced motorist safety by detecting and verifying incidents promptly, alerting emergency services more speedily and providing real-time warnings to road users. The average incident detection time was 2 minutes 25 seconds.

Cape Town Freeway Management System

During 2015/16, the Cape Town FMS facilitated a coordinated response to more than 20 000 incidents on the city’s freeways, including 2 400 crashes.

The main success was sustaining the downward trend in incident detection and crash clearance times.

On average, incidents were detected within 2 minutes 30 seconds of occurring. A reduction in clearance times at fatal crash scenes was particularly significant and this was primarily due to improved coordination among emergency services, including the South African Police Service.

The Cape Town FMS comprises 237 CCTV cameras and 52 variable message signboards which were available more than 98% of the time in 2015/16. To enhance the FMS, 79 vehicle detector stations (VDS) and 10 environmental sensor stations were commissioned.

The Cape Town FMS contributes to a task team set-up to improve safety and security on portions of the N2 and R300. The primary objective is to improve safety and security through proactive intelligence gathering and a rapid law enforcement response to any stationary vehicle on the freeway.

SANRAL taking care of the environment

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Fauna and flora will be conserved before any road construction takes place in the Eastern-Cape.

 

In its quest to connect people throughout the country, the South African National Roads Agency Limited (SANRAL) still wants to take care of the natural environment.

South Africa’s National Development Plan or Vision 2030 seeks to protect and enhance our environmental assets and natural resources which is exactly what SANRAL is doing in the Eastern Cape.

SANRAL has initiated their planned environmental conservation programmes designed to protect the Eastern Cape plant biological diversity and natural heritage of the Wild Coast as part of the environmental management plan of the N2 Wild Coast Toll Road (N2WCTR).

It has now launched a formal tendering process for a service provider with botanical and conservation expertise to implement aspects of the environmental management plan for the N2WCTR.

The successful service provider – to be appointed later this month – will be responsible for search and rescue, horticultural and rehabilitation services of threatened, protected and rare plant species near the Msikaba and the Mtentu bridges outside Lusikisiki and Flagstaff in the Eastern Cape.

Keeping plant species protected

Search and rescue missions will take place before all phases of the project, including the initial construction of haul roads to the Msikaba and Mtentu river bridge sites (scheduled for September 2016 – February 2017), the construction of the two mega-bridges (early 2017 – late 2019), and for construction of all other road works and bridges ( 2018 – 2020/21).

Mbulelo Peterson, SANRAL’s Southern Region Manager, said: “Our first priority is to put programmes and initiatives in place to comply with the conditions of the record of decision from the Department of Environmental Affairs. All SANRAL road construction and engineering projects in South Africa and the Eastern Cape have stringent and well-planned environmental management plans, but none more so than on these N2 Wild Coast Projects.

“All SANRAL projects are finely monitored and evaluated. The environment and communities in the Wild Coast are and will be our first priority.”

The appointed service provider will be responsible for:

  • Establishing and maintaining plant nurseries at suitable locations;
  • Undertaking tasks as set out in the Plant Search and Rescue Plan;
  • Rescuing plant material listed as protected, vulnerable or rare and additional plant species suitable for rehabilitation;
  • Utilising and involving local communities to harvest plant materials that have traditional uses in accordance with an agreed and structured programme;
  • Harvesting exposed and weathered rocks, as appropriate, for placement in suitable locations in disturbed areas as part of the rehabilitation process at completion of works;
  • Undertaking plant propagation of suitable species (from seeds and cuttings);
  • Assisting contractors with vegetative rehabilitation through reintroduction of rescued and propagated plant material and seeding; and
  • Assisting contractors with maintenance of rehabilitated areas by way of weeding, watering, replanting and repair of damaged areas.

Peterson said: “In close cooperation with the National Botanical Institute and with the input of environmental authorities and groups all rare, endangered and endemic species and species of conservation value will be translocated to suitable nurseries with the aim to both re-establish in an existing conservation area and to assist with the rehabilitation of disturbed areas after construction.

“In the limited forest areas affected, suitable tree seedlings and understory plants will be rescued and kept in a nursery for re-planting in suitable sites after construction. Areas that might be disturbed will be re-vegetated using either specified indigenous seed mix where appropriate and/or vegetation removed as part of the initial search and rescue operation.”

Bringing socio-economic change

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Image: Brand South Africa

 

South Africa’s National Development Plan or Vision 2030 seeks a more inclusive economy that will address the country’s socio-economic imbalances and the South African National Roads Agency Limited (SANRAL) is helping achieve this.

SANRAL is committed to promoting economic growth, stimulating the expansion of small and medium-sized businesses, reducing unemployment, and building a skilled workforce.

According to SANRAL’s 2016 Annual Report SMMEs performed work to the value of R3.56 billion on non-toll roads and toll roads funded by SANRAL during 2015/16. Black-owned SMMEs undertook 49 percent of these contracts and the combined value of their work amounted to 55 percent of the agency’s total expenditure on SMME road contracts.

Close to R13 million was invested in developing the skills of workers involved in SANRAL road projects during 2015/16.

SANRAL’s commitment to providing employment saw 59% of these opportunities taken up by workers who were 35 years and younger. Women claimed almost 20% of the opportunities.

Community Development programmes

With its commitment to community development, SANRAL prioritises local workers in the areas where it is undertaking road works and this inevitably implies that the work is for a finite period.

However, there is a lasting benefit for many of those involved in terms of skills acquisition and improved job prospects in the future.

SANRAL’s community development programme focuses on:

  • Providing pedestrian facilities and safe access points for communities living next to the national road network.
  • Creating jobs and providing access to skills and training.
  • Developing SMMEs.
  • Promoting community participation.
  • Developing individuals through a variety of education initiatives.

During 2015/16 80 community development projects were registered, in design or under construction. The combined value of these projects was approximately R149 332 245.

An example of the agency’s strategic ability to conceive and implement meaningful community development programmes alongside its conventional engineering programme is the Ngcobo access road project in the Chris Hani District Municipality, completed in September 2015. Through the project SANRAL was able to maximise job opportunities, and develop skills and local enterprise while undertaking a R209-million engineering project.

To increase local job opportunities, SANRAL selected labour-intensive road construction methods. A slurry bound macadam base pavement design was used to upgrade the gravel road. This resulted in the employment of 110 youth from four villages near the project.

These young people underwent structured training in construction and acquired skills that made them employable on local, regional and national projects.

Tina Prinsloo, Director at Valorex, a company that undertakes routine road maintenance on behalf of SANRAL in areas around Tzaneen, Louis Trichardt, Nelspruit and Barberton praised SANRAL.

“SANRAL has helped our company grow. We employ 10 permanent workers and as many as 30 contracted workers on each project. I would like to become a contractor who, given the correct resources, can incubate other new sub-contractors,” she said.

Valorex has in a relatively short time built the capacity to undertake level 4 civil engineering work and level 1 asphalt work.

Community development at the heart of SANRAL

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Image: Brand South Africa

 

The South African National Roads Agency Limited (SANRAL) prides itself in upholding the ethos of South Africa’s National Development Plan (NDP) and this is evident in their community development.

The NDP, also known as Vision 2030, is a blueprint for eliminating poverty and reducing inequality in South Africa by 2030. Among other things, it identifies constraints to faster growth and presents a roadmap to a more inclusive economy that will address the country’s socio-economic imbalances.

One of the NDP’s outcomes is community development which seeks to establish sustainable human settlements and improved quality of household life.

Nazir Alli, CEO of SANRAL, said on their 2016 Annual Report: “Transport is one of the most important enablers of growth and prosperity and, as South Africa continues to densify its cities and provide roads in the under-serviced parts of our country, we should benefit from a road network that provides both increasing access and mobility.

“In our country, roads remain the most heavily used transportation infrastructure, providing a base for a multitude of productive activities that help to expand the economy by creating jobs and connecting individuals, villages, towns and cities.”

Community development

SANRAL has invested about R12.9-million to train 4 120 people in road-building and other skills through 6 237 courses.

Alli said: “We have created the equivalent of 15 721 full-time jobs through the fulfilment of these contracts. Our contract participation goals saw the development of 1 004 black-owned companies individually contracted to perform work to the value of approximately R1.9-billion.”

SANRAL believes its efforts in community development are best summed up in the words of struggle stalwart Charlotte Maxeke: “This work is not for yourselves – kill that spirit of self, and do not live above your people but live with them. If you can rise, bring someone with you.”

Through active procurement policies, SANRAL will continue to promote broad-based black economic empowerment.

“This year we will focus strongly on women and youth. We will also maintain our strong commitment to developing SMMEs, which are essential to expanding capacity in the construction industry and creating jobs in our country,” said Alli.

Cynthia Tshabalala, owner of Siyahlutha Developers and a sub-contractor on the R67, attests to SANRAL’s impact on entrepreneurs: “I would like to thank SANRAL for giving me this opportunity. Not only did I get to realise my dream, but I was also given the opportunity to employ people from my community. I cannot even begin to express my gratitude. I was part of a group of women who went through a SANRAL SMME programme.

“I started with nothing. I didn’t have a single tool. I had no equipment and no vehicle to transport anything. Today, I own a vehicle that has been paid off. I have my own equipment, which I have started renting out, and my own tools.”

Sustainable human settlements

SANRAL’s contribution to community development extends beyond their engineering projects as evident in Knysna, where it freed 72ha of land to a community in the area.

Alli said: “In response to representations made by the affected community and in accordance with our role as an agency of a listening government, a joint decision was taken to transfer the land from SANRAL to the Housing Development Agency for an integrated human settlement project.”

Vandalism affects SANRAL

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The safety of pedestrians is at risk due to vandalism of important infrastructure and the South African National Roads Agency SOC Ltd (SANRAL) is appealing to residents in and around George to report vandalism to road infrastructure.

SANRAL is appealing to residents of various townships and other role players in George to assist in putting a stop to the vandalism of road infrastructure along the N2 where safe pathways are being provided.

The purpose-built walkways that cost the taxpayer R43-million stretch over a distance of about 8 km along the N2 between the York Street Interchange and the Garden Route Mall.

These are designed to provide safe access for residents of nearby residential areas, namely, Thembalethu, Pacaltsdorp, Lawaaikamp and Ballotsview during the day and night.

Kobus van der Walt, SANRAL’s Western Region Manager, said: “It is a well-known fact that approximately 40% of all deaths on South African roads are pedestrians. They are the most vulnerable group of all road users and road safety is an important priority for SANRAL.

“The deliberate and wilful destruction of the network jeopardises not only the safety of pedestrians from the various communities which it is designed to assist but also the livelihood of a number of workers on the project.”

A key feature of the project is a new pedestrian bridge which has been constructed alongside the N2, allowing pedestrians and cyclists to move safely across the railway line at Meul River between home and work. It has also been damaged with fire, burning the rubber bridge bearings.

Community development

The project is beneficial to the community because the targeted spend on SMME’s working on the project amounts to R24.3m and the targeted spend on labour is R12.2m. The project sources local labour and at any one time about 210 workers are busy laying bricks, building walkways and erecting fences, amongst other activities.

The vandalism impacts a total of seven subcontractors which have been appointed to carry out different aspects of the work. They are only paid once the work has been completed.

Some of the infrastructure damaged includes part of a two metre high welded mesh fence erected along the N2 separating the pathways from the freeway. The destruction of the fence also allows stray animals to gain access to the freeway, causing fatal accidents.

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Also damaged are the electrics housed in concrete poles on which 177 energy efficient LED lights will be mounted along the pathways enabling pedestrians to move safely at night to their homes.

Van der Walt adds that the rolling terrain makes the project more amenable to labour enhanced construction as heavy construction vehicles cannot operate in these conditions. This needs the use of manual labour to build the pathways on the steep slopes.

“This project has the added advantage of providing employment to a greater number of people from the George area,” said Van der Walt.

“I’m appealing to leaders of the local community to help put a stop to the vandalism of infrastructure which has been designed to better the lives of those living in the George area,” concludes Van der Walt.

Roadworks on the N2 – Great Fish River Bridge

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Source:SHutterstock
Source:SHutterstock

The South African National Roads Agency Ltd (SANRAL) would like to notify

travellers that roadworks are taking place at the Fish River Bridge on the N2 between

Grahamstown and Peddie. There will be a Stop-Go control section in place from today, 27 June

2016 until Friday, 01 July 2016.

The stop-and- go sections will be implemented during the day and motorists can expect a delay of

approximately 10 minutes. Two-way traffic will be maintained in the evenings.

“Motorists are requested to plan their trips accordingly and be cautious when making use of the

road, and comply with the directions of safety personnel,” said Mbulelo Peterson, SANRAL

Southern Region’s Regional Manager.

SANRAL apologises for any inconvenience caused.

Roadworks continue on N2 from Wilsonia to N6

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Source: Shutterstock
Source: Shutterstock

Ongoing roadworks on the N2 from Wilsonia to the N6 outside East London are set to continue.

The South African National Roads Agency Ltd (SANRAL) would like to advise motorists that lane closures are scheduled this week between 8:30 and 16:00. The closures are as follows:

  • Wednesday, 29 June

Closure of the West-bound fast lane between km 5.2 and km 9.2.

  • Thursday, 30 June

Closure of the East-bound fast lane between km 9.2 and km 13.2.

  • Friday, 1 July

Closure of the East-bound fast lane between km 13.2 and km 16.6.

  • Monday, 4 July

Closure of the West-bound fast lane between km 13.2 and km 16.6.

  • Tuesday, 5 July

Closure of the West-bound fast lane between km 9.2 and km 13.2.

No further lane closures are scheduled until the 1st of September 2016.

Please be advised this is a dual carriageway, so one lane will remain open to traffic when the other is closed. The R102 may be used as an alternative.

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

Blasting operation between km 77.840 and km 78.040 on National Route N1 section 16 between Winburg Interchange and the Winburg Station, north of Bloemfontein.

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Source: Shutterstock
Source: Shutterstock

A blasting operation is scheduled to take place between the Winburg Interchange and the Winburg Station on the N1 between km 77.840 and km 78.040 on Tuesday 28 June 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.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.

SANRAL apologises to the motoring public for any inconvenience caused and thanks them for their patience during road construction.The Agency takes seriously its mandate from government to manage and maintain the national road network.

In so doing, the safety and wellbeing of road users and the communities in which it operates are paramount.