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MEDIA RELEASE

SANRAL rolls out major investment for Gauteng, Mpumalanga, Limpopo and North West

Pretoria, 9 September 2024 – The South African National Roads Agency SOC Limited (SANRAL) has announced major investments in critical road infrastructure for its Northern Region. This follows the recent announcement of a R50 billion investment by SANRAL CEO Reginal Demana on Monday.

Demana declared that the roads agency plans to invest R50 billion into the South African economy through new tenders. R15 billion worth of contracts have been awarded since the first of April which marks the beginning of the current financial year.

“I am happy to announce that we are currently evaluating 96 tenders worth R35 billion, while 86 contracts worth R15 billion have already been awarded since the start of the 2024/25 financial year on 1 April 2024” he said.

Demana said the tenders currently under evaluation are spread across the country, but the majority falls under the Northern Region which comprises of Gauteng, Mpumalanga, Limpopo and North West. SANRAL’s Northern Region manages approximately 9 500km of the national road network, making it the agency’s largest region.

According to Progress Hlahla, SANRAL Northern Regional Manager, 34 tenders worth R16.5 billion are earmarked for the region and will have a major impact on the economy.

“These are exciting times for the industry, this investment means more opportunities for local businesses and jobs for our people. In line with the CEOs announcement, we have ensured that we fast-track the rollout of work packages for critical projects in the region,” said Hlahla.

Hlahla says the agency has recently awarded a R893 million contract for construction of an 11,7km stretch of the R573 project in Thembisile Hani Local Municipality, as part of the multi-billion-rand development of the Moloto Road Corridor. Work on the rehabilitation of the old N1 in the Musina CBD has started as well. This is an investment of R227million for improvement of 5.8km stretch of road. A total 8% of the contract value will be spent on targeted labour from the Musina area, while 30% would be spent on targeted enterprises which have at least 51% black ownership.

In May 2024, the roads agency introduced four community development projects worth R787 million in Limpopo. The following project were introduced to traditional leadership, road forums, taxi and bus associations, and communities in the affected areas:

• The R144-million D2919 road, which spans from Tshikanoshi to Malebitsa, Sekhukhune District Municipality.
• The R132-million D3878 road, which connects Calais to Ga-Sekororo, Mopani District Municipality.
• The R251-million D3187 road, which stretches from Mageva to Makhuva in the Mopani District Municipality.
• The R260-million D3810 road, which stretches from Thomo to Hlomela in the Mopani District Municipality.

The first packages on the project are currently underway with some local companies subcontracted for ancillary works.

Hlahla says these projects will have a significant impact on the socio-economic landscape of the country. He said more projects are still in the pipeline for the 2024/2025 financial year and these will go a long way to boost the local economy.

Projects in the northern region

Some of the major projects in this region include the N4 in Pretoria CBD, N1 Musina Ring Road, R37 in Burgersfort, the R573 Moloto Road Development Corridor which spans across three provinces (Gauteng, Mpumalanga and Limpopo), R510 towards Thabazimbi, R504 in Wolmaransstad, and the N2 from Ermelo to the KwaZulu-Natal border.

Northwest

SANRAL has also started with a R1.3 billion construction project on the R52 between Koster and Rustenburg in the North West province. Additionally, the resurfacing of the R512 between from R104 intersection to Brits is progressing well. The R504 Between Wolmaransstad and Leeudoringstad has been completed and the portion from Leeudoringstad to the Free state border is currently under construction. This investment is over R400 million and has created over 500 job opportunities for local labour. Furthermore, work on the N12 in Wolmaransstad and in Bloemhof has commenced with approximately R500 earmarked for the resurfacing of the N12 in these towns.

Limpopo

Major works are planned on the R516 with over a billion rand earmarked for the upgrade of this critical road. Additionally, the R101 in Bela Bela is set for a major upgrade as well to ensure motorist travel safely in this area. The work on the R510 between the Northwest/Limpopo border and Thabazimbi is progressing well, with over R1 billion having been earmarked for this project. This has added many jobs and subcontracting opportunities to the local economy.

Mpumalanga

SANRAL has completed most of the resurfacing work on the N17 between Chrissiesmeer and the Oshoek border post, has been completed having spend over R500 million and creating approximately 240 jobs. The N2 between Ermelo and the KZN border is due for a major upgrade, with five packages having already been advertised and currently under evaluation. The Panbult interchange is currently under construction and the N2 between Bloemendal and Piet Retief has recently been awarded to the value of approximately R3.8 billion. All the other phases are earmarked for award later this financial year.

Gauteng

The repair of the N1 pavement layers in the south of Johannesburg towards the Vanderbijlpark is almost complete, with over R400 million having been spend and approximately 300 jobs created. Additionally, rehabilitation of the R21 between Pomona and Olifantsfontein is progressing well, with the repair of both sinkholes on the R21 and N1 being at an advanced stage. SANRAL will be going to market soon for the resurfacing of the GFIP network in Gauteng. This will be done in stages to minimise traffic disruption.

Three priority projects have been successfully completed which include the N1 Musina Ring Road costing R700 million, and the R37 in Burgersfort, which was completed at a cost of R1 billion.

Additionally, 7km of the Moloto Road project in Limpopo has been completed, with construction continuing in both the Mpumalanga sections. Construction will extend to include the entire corridor, covering the Gauteng section as well.

The N1 Musina Ring Road project created 281 jobs for locals, and 132 individuals received training at a cost of R411,462. Additionally, 20 local subcontractors were employed.

The R37 project in Limpopo, completed at a cost of one billion Rand, created 423 jobs and trained 149 individuals. A total of R80 million was allocated to community development initiatives.

Further improvements have been undertaken on the R510 towards Thabazimbi, R504 in Wolmaransstad, and the entire N2 from Ermelo to the KwaZulu-Natal border. These projects aim to enhance the efficient flow of freight, ultimately boosting productivity in the affected towns.

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TRAFFIC ADVISORY

Temporary Road Closures, with Stop/Go, on the R555, Steynsdrift to Steelpoort River, Limpopo Province

Limpopo, 9 September 2024 – The South African National Roads Agency SOC Limited (SANRAL) wishes to inform road users of the temporary road closures, with a Stop/Go system operating on the R555 national road, Section 3, from Steynsdrift (km 44.0) to the Steelpoort River (km 63.0).

The road section is situated near the DeHoop Dam. These closures are necessary to facilitate the road improvement works and are in place both day and night.

Closure Details:

• Dates: From September 2024 until the end of April 2025.
• Times: Day and night operations will be in place.
• Duration: Stop/Go traffic management will be in operation, leading to potential delays of up to 30 minutes during peak hours.
• Closure Lengths: The closure lengths may vary but should not exceed 4km unless required for safety reasons.

The national road agency advises motorists to plan their trips accordingly and appreciate their patience and cooperation during these essential road upgrades. SANRAL remains committed to improving the safety and quality of national roads.

“The road improvement works on the R555 national road are a critical part of our ongoing commitment to enhancing the infrastructure in the Limpopo region,” said Progress Hlahla, SANRAL Northern Regional Manager.

“While we understand that the temporary closures and Stop/Go systems may cause some inconvenience, these measures are necessary to ensure the safety of both our construction teams and road users. We are working diligently to minimise disruptions and complete the upgrades within the scheduled timeframe.”

Motorists are requested to adhere to the traffic accommodation signage and the flag persons advanced warnings when applicable. SANRAL apologises for the inconvenience.

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MEDIA RELEASE

Projects valued at R25 billion are currently under construction N2 and N3 in KwaZulu Natal

Caption:SANRAL CEO Reginald Demana (in pink vest) receiving a briefing from main contractors in the Key Ridge to Hammarsdale project

 

 

Caption: Artist’s impression of the finished EB Cloete Interchange

Durban, 9 September 2024 – There are currently nine packages under construction on the N2 and N3 in KwaZulu Natal to the value of R25 billion, the South African National Roads Agency SOC Limited (SANRAL) has announced.

“The N2/N3 programme is well on track since we started in 2021. We currently have got nine packages under construction, 7 on the N3 between Durban and Pietermaritzburg and two on the N2 which is the Kwa-Mashu to Umdloti and EB Cloete Interchange projects in eThekwini,” said Dudley Mbambo, SANRAL’s Eastern Region Acting Regional Manager.

The R1.2 billion KwaMashu Interchange to Umdloti project started in August 2021 and is due for completion in the last quarter of 2025. The M41 pedestrian bridge, to be undertaken as a Community Development and Road Safety project is a much-needed safety measure on this project and its completion is of utmost importance.

“We need to ensure the safety of all road users are prioritized including pedestrians. There are households next to the M41 highway and people crossing to go to work in various places. These people must be provided with a pedestrian bridge that will make it safe to cross the highway,” said Mbambo.

Major strides have been achieved on the R5 billion EB Cloete Interchange (Spaghetti Junction) project which started in May 2023. Construction is 15% complete as at end of July 2024 and the targeted enterprises have earned well over R35 million.

This project aims to increase the capacity of the EB Cloete Interchange and 8.1 kilometers of the N2 and N3 in the vicinity back to acceptable service levels through the addition of new lanes on the Interchange ramps and the carriageways of the N2 and N3.

“There are currently 20 lanes in the interchange and the upgrades will increase that capacity to 32 lanes in all directions. The upgraded interchange and adjacent N2 and N3 will provide additional lanes that will reduce traffic congestion and delays to the travelling public upon completion,” said Mbambo.

Of the total cost, the cost of the steel arch which is pivotal to the functioning of the interchange is approximately 5% of the overall cost to a value of R240million, while the roads works and structures costs are approximately R2,5billion and R1,6billion respectively.

Exempt Micro Enterprises (EME) and Qualifying Small Enterprises (QSE) subcontractors and suppliers will also benefit through the subcontracting of approximately R1,25 billion to Targeted Enterprise subcontractors and suppliers, with up to 121 subcontract packages and 19 supplier packages anticipated to be awarded to Targeted Enterprises.

“Labour is employed from the local community with an approximate R333,6 million anticipated to be spent on hourly wages over the 5-year contract period. A total of R22,6 million is anticipated to be spent on training that would include 160 learnerships, 150 technical skills, 650 generic skills, and 16 CIDB method 2/3/4,” said Mbambo.

The R4.57 billion N3 upgrade project between Key Ridge and Hammarsdale commenced in May 2023. The Key Ridge to Hammarsdale project upgrade will play a major role in alleviating traffic and bring about much needed safety in the area. The steep gradients, excessive super-elevation and curvilinear alignment results in many heavy vehicles overturning at the bottom of the valley resulting in closure of the N3 for lengthy period of time. This section of the N3 will be realigned to a greenfields portion resulting in a much straighter alignment with much flatter gradient.

The construction, scheduled to take 51 months, will upgrade the existing roadway to a five-lane divided dual carriageway starting in the south at Key Ridge, near the M13 interchange, at km 2,8 and continuing to just before the Hammarsdale Interchange at km 8,825.

The project is divided into three distinct construction phases:

• Phase 1: Widening of the existing northbound carriageway to accommodate five lanes of contraflow traffic (2 lanes northbound and 3 lanes southbound).
• Phase 2: Divert all traffic to the newly widened northbound carriageway. Construction of the new five-lane southbound carriageway as a greenfield project.
• Phase 3: Divert all traffic to the newly constructed southbound carriageway. Construction of the new five-lane northbound carriageway as a greenfield project.

“This project, which comes at a cost of R4.57 billion, was necessitated by high crash statistics as well as poor condition of the pavement, which is over 40 years. The upgrade will increase safety but also significantly improve the level of service for the next 30 years,” said Mbambo.

In line with SANRAL’s transformation objectives, at least R1.1billion will be subcontracted to SMMEs while just over R392 million will be spent on local labour.

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TRAFFIC ADVISORY

N3 closure to facilitate blasting between Ashburton and Market Road

Pietermaritzburg, 6 September 2024 – Part of the N3 will be fully closed on 10 and 12 September 2024 to facilitate blasting next to the N3 at the Ashburton Interchange, as part of the N3 Ashburton to Market Road upgrade project, the South African National Roads Agency SOC Limited (SANRAL) has announced.

“The N3 closure will take place between the Ashburton and Market Road Interchanges. Closures will also be necessary on Pope Ellis Drive from R103 intersection to Ashburton Interchange in the vicinity of the blasting activities,” said Jason Lowe, SANRAL’s Eastern Region Project Manager.

Traffic accommodation team, with the assistance of the Road Traffic Inspectorate (RTI) will monitor the diversion of traffic during the closure.

The road closure will take place as follows:

10 September 2024 (Tuesday):
14h30: Close N3 and secondary road and blast.
14h30 to 14h55: Clean up any debris on all roads.
14h55 to 15h00: Final Road Safety Inspection
15h00: Re-open N3 and secondary road for all vehicles.

12 September 2024 (Thursday):
14h30: Close N3 and secondary road and blast.
14h30 to 14h55: Clean up any debris on all roads.
14h55 to 15h00: Final Road Safety Inspection
15h00: Re-open N3 secondary road for all vehicles.

The R103 route will be available as an alternative route during the blast. Substantial delays are, however, likely as the R103 is unable to handle the same volume of traffic as the N3.

The closure may need to be adjusted depending on weather conditions on the day. If that happens, a second notice with information of the new time will be issued.

“We ask motorists to be patient during the closure and to plan and adjust their trips, especially their times of departure, to accommodate the closure while still adhering to speed limits. SANRAL apologises to the motoring public for any inconvenience caused and thanks them for their patience during the ongoing road construction,” said Lowe.

ALTERNATIVE ROUTES:

FIGURE 1: ALTERNATIVE ROUTE FOR BLASTING.
NOTE: ASHBURTON/ POPE ELLIS WILL BE CLOSED FOR BLASTING TRAFFIC WILL BE DIRECTED VIA THE R103 ROUTE.THE TRAFFIC WILL BE ALLOWED TO TAKE THE MARKET ROAD OFFRAMP TO THE N3 MAINLINE AS SHOWN IN FIGURE 1 ABOVE IN RED.

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MEDIA RELEASE

SANRAL exposes Maluti-a-Phofung youth to educational opportunities

Caption: Learners from Maluti-a-Phofung attentively listening to SANRAL presentation at the career exhibition

Harrismith, 5 September 2024 – Scholarships are available to all high school learners who are in grades 8 to 12, irrespective of subject choices, the South African National Roads Agency SOC Limited (SANRAL) has announced.

More than 800 high school learners from Maluti-a-Phofung attended the agency’s Career Expo this week and were encouraged to apply for the scholarship and bursary opportunities provided by SANRAL.

Speaking to the learners, Maluti-a-Phofung Education District Director Khothatso Molefi said: “The purpose for today’s event is to show you the way and expose you to different careers. The opportunities presented here are for you. Everyone is here to help you choose your careers, to succeed and have a brighter future. Take this opportunity and use it to your advantage.”

Nomfundo Vilakazi, Human Resources graduate intern at SANRAL’s Eastern Region, encouraged learners to choose their careers wisely. “I am a recipient of a SANRAL bursary. If I can do it, so can you. You must have a dream as a young person. There is no limit to your dream. As the youth you are powerful to change your future. You have the power to change your situation at home,” said Vilakazi.

She encouraged the learners to make use of the opportunities presented to them and to focus solely on their education.

“To qualify for these opportunities, students at universities need a 60% pass mark while matriculants must obtain a 70% pass mark. Our bursary programme benefits students who want to study towards fields such as procurement, finance and human resources, and not just civil engineering,” said Vilakazi.

Thandeka Ngema, SANRAL’s Eastern Region Stakeholder Coordinator, said: “As much as SANRAL builds national roads, we go by our motto which is ‘Beyond Roads’. At the Career Expo, we share information about our scholarship and bursary programmes and also talk about career opportunities in fields such as civil engineering, environmental engineering and electronic engineering, among others. We want the learners to know there is financial assistance for them to further their studies.”

Other partners in this programme include various government departments, including the Department of Employment and Labour; the Wholesale and Retail Sector Education and Training Authority (WRSETA), as well as educational institutions such as Eduvos and the Central University of Technology, both based in Bloemfontein.

The applications are open and will close on 30 September. The bursary and scholarship applications forms are available on the SANRAL website, http://www.nra.co.za
For queries or more information contact: scholarship@nra.co.za or externalbursaries@nra.co.za

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TRAFFIC ADVISORY

Blasting Operations on N2 between Makhanda and Fish River Pass in the Eastern Cape

Gqeberha, 5 September 2024 – The South African National Roads Agency SOC Limited (SANRAL) wishes to notify road users that the N2 will be intermittently closed between Makhanda (Grahamstown) and the Fish River Pass due to blasting operations taking place between 9 and 26 September 2024.

Blasting operations are planned for the following dates:

• Monday, 9 September 2024,
• Thursday, 12 September2024,
• Monday, 16 September 2024,
• Thursday,19 September 2024,
• Monday, 23 September 2024, and
• Thursday, 26 September 2024.

The road will be closed on these days from 15h00, for a maximum period of three hours up to 18h00, to allow sufficient time for the cleaning of the existing N2 and making it safe for the travelling public.

Motorists travelling westwards between East London or Qonce (King William’s Town) and Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth) may consider using the following alternative route:

• From East London, follow the R72 to Port Alfred and Kenton-on-Sea through to Nanaga, turn left onto the N2 and continue on to Gqeberha.

Motorists travelling eastwards between Gqeberha and Qonce or East London may consider using the following alternative route:

• From Gqeberha, follow the N2 to Nanaga, turn right onto the R72 at the junction at Nanaga and travel on via Alexandria and Port Alfred to East London.
• From East London, turn left onto the N2 and travel westwards through to Qonce.

Mbulelo Peterson, SANRAL’s Southern Region Manager, said, “Motorists are requested to plan their trips, accordingly, consider alternative routes and use caution when making use of the roads. We apologises for any inconvenience caused.

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TRAFFIC ADVISORY

Temporary lane closure on N2 on the Safari Bridge in Richards Bay

Richards Bay, 4 September 2024 – Various activities including line marking Sandblasting, removal of barriers, and repair of asphalt surfacing will take place on N2 on the Safari Bridge (B1025) as part of ongoing infrastructure maintenance, the South African National Road Agency SOC Ltd (SANRAL) has announced.

“As part of the casting of concrete parapet process (building the concrete barrier on the bridge), temporary lane closures with stop-and-go control will be implemented,” said Serisha Sukraj, SANRAL Eastern Region Project Manager.

The road closure will take place as follows:

5 September 2024 (Southbound) from 09h00 to 14h00
6 September 2024 (Southbound) from 09h00 to 14h00
7 September 2024 (Southbound) from 09h00 to 14h00

Motorists are advised to plan their routes accordingly and allow for extra travel time, especially when accessing travel hubs such as airports.

“We further appeal to road users to adhere to the road signs and speed limit when approaching and traveling through the construction site. SANRAL apologises for any inconvenience this may cause and ask for your understanding as they work to maintain their infrastructure assets,” said Sukraj

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TRAFFIC ADVISORY

Blasting on the N2 between KwaBhaca and eMaxesibeni, Eastern Cape

Gqeberha, 3 September August 2024 – The South African National Roads Agency SOC Limited (SANRAL) would like to notify road users of scheduled blasting that will take place on the N2 between KwaBhaca, formerly known as Mount Frere, and eMaxesibeni, formerly Mount Ayliff, at approximately 15h00 on Thursday, 5 September 2024.

The blast will occur at locations approximately 6.5km, 15km and 26.4km from KwaBhaca when traveling towards eMaXesibeni. The road will be temporarily closed during the blast.

While every effort will be made to minimise the duration of the closure, the road could be closed for up to 30 minutes.

The shortest alternative route is 69km longer and may add approximately 50 minutes to the journey between Mthatha and Kokstad.

Mbulelo Peterson, Regional Manager for SANRAL’s Southern Region, said, “We urge motorists to plan their trips accordingly, consider alternative routes and exercise caution while using the roads. We apologise for the inconvenience.”

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TRAFFIC ADVISORY

N3 closure to facilitate blasting between Ashburton and Market Road

Pietermaritzburg, 3 September 2024 – Part of the N3 will be fully closed on 10 and 12 September 2024 to facilitate blasting next to the N3 at the Ashburton Interchange as part of the N3 Ashburton to Market Road upgrade project, the South African National Roads Agency SOC Limited (SANRAL) has announced.

The N3 closure will take place between the Ashburton and Market Road Interchanges. Closures will also be necessary on Pope Ellis Drive from R103 intersection to Ashburton Interchange in the vicinity of the blasting activities.

“Our traffic accommodation team, with the assistance of the Road Traffic Inspectorate (RTI), will monitor the diversion of traffic during the closure” said Jason Lowe, SANRAL’s Eastern Region Project Manager.

The full road closure will take place as follows:

10 September 2024 (Tuesday):
14h30: Close N3 and secondary road and blast.
14h30 to 14h55: Clean up any debris on all roads.
14h55 to 15h00: Final Road Safety Inspection
15h00: Re-open N3 and secondary road for all vehicles.

12 September 2024 (Thursday):
14h30: Close N3 and secondary road and blast.
14h30 to 14h55: Clean up any debris on all roads.
14h55 to 15h00: Final Road Safety Inspection
15h00: Re-open N3 secondary road for all vehicles.

The R103 route will be available as an alternative route during the blast. Substantial delays are, however, likely as the R103 is unable to handle the same volume of traffic as the N3.

The closure may need to be adjusted depending on weather conditions on the day. If that happens, a second notice with information of the new time will be issued.

“We ask motorists to be patient during the closure and to plan and adjust their trips, especially their leaving times, to accommodate the closure whilst still adhering to speed limits. SANRAL apologises to the motoring public for any inconvenience caused and thanks them for their patience during the ongoing road construction,” said Lowe.

ALTERNATIVE ROUTES:

FIGURE 1: ALTERNATIVE ROUTE FOR BLASTING.
NOTE: ASHBURTON/ POPE ELLIS WILL BE CLOSED FOR BLASTING TRAFFIC WILL BE DIRECTED VIA
THE R103 ROUTE.THE TRAFFIC WILL BE ALLOWED TO TAKE THE MARKET ROAD OFFRAMP TO THE
N3 MAINLINE AS SHOWN IN FIGURE 1 ABOVE IN RED.

//Ends