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SANRAL announces work will soon start on partial reconstruction of R21 national road in Gauteng

14km reconstruction between Pomona Road close to OR Tambo International Airport and Olifantsfontein Road Pretoria,

9 November 2023 – The South African National Roads Agency SOC Limited (SANRAL) has announced a R309 million project to reconstruct 14km of the R21 National Road in Gauteng. The project stretches from the Pomona Road Interchange close to OR Tambo International Airport to the Olifantsfontein Road Interchange in the direction of Pretoria.

Progress Hlahla, head of SANRAL’s Northern Region, said the reconstruction of the R21 was set to start early in 2024 after a three-month mobilisation period for the contractor, followed by a 24-month construction period.

“The R21 is a critical artery in South Africa’s transportation network and this reconstruction of 14km will significantly improve its current condition and enhance mobility. The R21 is a priority for SANRAL because of the role that it plays in moving people, goods and services. It handles a massive amount of traffic, with an average daily volume of over 45,000 vehicles in each direction, 11 per cent of which is heavy vehicles,” said Hlahla.

To minimise disruptions for road users, the project will include a comprehensive traffic accommodation plan to carefully manage lane closures and ensure minimal impact during peak traffic hours. A combination of daytime and night-time work will be carried out during off-peak periods to minimise inconvenience to road users. Short-term closures will be limited to off-peak periods only where practical. The safety of motorists and construction workers is paramount and will be prioritised at all times.

In line with SANRAL’s transformation agenda for the construction industry, the project will place an emphasis on the inclusion of Targeted Enterprises i.e. SMMEs, especially those owned by women, youth, people with disabilities and military veterans. With this approach, SANRAL supports local economic growth and job creation.

“During the construction phase, at least 30% of the contract value will be subcontracted to Targeted Enterprises and a minimum of six percent (6%) earmarked for Targeted Labour. This project promises to revitalise a critical artery of South Africa’s transportation network whilst giving effect to SANRAL’s transformation objectives. Road users can anticipate light traffic disruptions over the coming months but can ultimately look forward to improved riding quality, better surface drainage and enhanced road safety when the project is complete,” said Hlahla.

SANRAL awarded the contract to construction firm Roadmac Surfacing (Pty) Ltd. The roads agency has also appointed consulting engineering firm KBK Engineers (Pty) Ltd, who will supervise the construction process and ensure the project adheres to the highest standards of quality and safety.

The scope of work on the project includes the repair and maintenance of the road infrastructure as follows:
• Main Carriageway Fast Lanes: Surface repairs;
• Main Carriageway Slow Lanes: Surface repairs;
• Emergency Lanes and Inner Shoulders: Addressing defects with crack sealing and patching;
• Resurfacing (Friction Course): New friction course (UTFC) over the full width of the carriageways;
• Ramps and Cross Roads: Sealing cracks, patching localised failures and new asphalt levelling course; and,
• Bridge Decks: Mill and replace surfacing and installation of new asphaltic plug-type joints.

MEDIA RELEASE

SANRAL takes public consultations on interim Preferential Procurement Policy to Free State

Pietermaritzburg, 8 November 2023 – The South African National Roads Agency SOC Limited (SANRAL) will on Friday, 10 November 2023, continue its series of stakeholder engagement sessions at various venues in and around Free State as part of public consultations on an Interim Preferential Procurement Policy (PPP).

The main stakeholder engagement session in Free State will take place in Rose Hall, Bloemfontein, and will also be linked virtually to venues in Welkom and Smithfield.

The decision to withdraw SANRAL’s new Preferential Procurement Policy which came into effect in May 2023 was taken by the Board on 23 October 2023 after careful consideration of the legal challenges to the policy launched by construction companies in various courts across the country.

These legal challenges would have prevented SANRAL from processing some 80 tenders worth billions of Rands, with significant negative consequences for the fulfilment of the roads agency’s constitutional and statutory mandate.

The purpose of the stakeholder engagement meetings is to enable SANRAL to receive inputs and contributions from interested and affected stakeholders to present a roadmap for implementation of the interim PPP.

SANRAL urges all interested and affected stakeholders to participate in this consultative process to facilitate a speedy resolution to any potential obstacles that would delay the roads agency from meeting its mandate to build and maintain the country’s road infrastructure network and pursue its transformation objectives.

Details of the stakeholder engagement sessions are as follows:

Time: 09h00-11h00

Main venue:

• • Bloemfontein – Rose Hall

Satellite venues:

• • Welkom – Ferdi Meyer Hall
• • Smithfield – Trompsburg Town Hall

For further information please contact: Zenzele Bam on 072 891 5290 or Siyabonga Khuzwayo on 083 260 3555 or sanral@fticonsulting.com

 

MEDIA RELEASE

SANRAL takes public consultation on proposed Interim Preferential Procurement Policy (PPP) to KZN

Pietermaritzburg, 8 November 2023 – The South African National Roads Agency SOC Limited (SANRAL) today hosted the second of a series of engagements at various venues throughout the country to consult stakeholders on a proposed Interim Preferential Procurement Policy (PPP).

The stakeholder engagement session took place at Pietermaritzburg City Hall in Msunduzi Local Municipality, while participants also gathered at satellite venues in Durban, Kokstad and Jozini, which were linked virtually to the main hall.

SANRAL CEO Reginald Demana, Regional Manager Dumisani Nkabinde and other senior SANRAL representatives engaged with interested and affected stakeholders on the proposed Interim Preferential Procurement Policy (PPP) and related matters.

Addressing the meetings, Mr Demana said SANRAL’s role in South Africa’s economic system was critically important and the roads agency was therefore at the centre of driving transformation in the roads sector. It was for this reason that transformation and preferential procurement was so important for SANRAL. “Our roads cut across provinces, municipalities and many communities. In the work that we do we have to continue to look at transforming lives. We say we are more than roads, we build wealth through infrastructure and we want to help to transform the lives, of everyone we come across as we build and maintain our road infrastructure so that we leave wherever we pass through in a better place than we found it, so it is a social licence to operate,” said Demana.

Mr Demana also said transformation continued to be a very contentious issue in the country, especially considering that the economy was not growing, which meant that economic opportunities were limited, and therefore competition for those limited opportunities was very high.

“There are those who want to protect what they have and protect their market share and their position and of course we also want to make sure that we don’t leave people behind. As the president says ‘leave no one behind’.

SANRAL would continue to use the procurement power and budgets it had to foster transformation and to make sure that we leave a meaningful impact wherever we operate. “That’s a commitment you will continue to see from SANRAL.”

SMMEs in attendance said they would support the proposed interim PPP but expressed deep unhappiness that transformation was not taking place at a pace which empowered black people.

Mr Wonder Jaca, Deputy Secretary General of the Black Business Federation (BBF) stated his organisation’s support for the interim PPP and apologised on behalf of all SMMEs owned by previously disadvantaged South Africans for not sufficiently participating in policy debates.

In response to SMMEs’ concerns regarding slow progress in advancing transformation, Mr Kaiser Khoza, SANRAL’s Chief Legal, Risk and Compliance Officer, assured SMMEs that SANRAL is deeply committed to transformation and would soon be drafting a final PPP which will also undergo public participation.

The proposed Interim Preferential Procurement Policy (PPP) is open for comment for three (3) weeks until 17 November 2023. The document can be found on SANRAL’s website (www.nra.co.za) and various social media platforms. Embedded within the policy document is an email address (commentsppp@nra.co.za) to enable stakeholders to submit their comments.

//Ends

Issued

 

MEDIA RELEASE

Construction begins on R1.9bn N3 upgrade from Murray Road (Gladys Manzi Road) to New England Road Interchange

KwaZulu-Natal, 8 November 2023 – Motorists travelling on Section 3 of the N3 between Gladys Manzi Road and New England Road Interchange will experience traffic disruptions as major construction and upgrading of the route has begun.

The R1.91-billion project is expected to take 44 months, according to the South African National Roads Agency SOC Limited (SANRAL).

Construction on Gladys Manzi Road (km 5.9) to New England Road Interchange (km 9.0) will upgrade the existing cross-section of the N3 from two northbound and three southbound lanes to four northbound and five southbound lanes per carriageway.

SANRAL embarked on a three-month mobilisation period which included community engagements and procurement planning for targeted enterprises. These were concluded on 19 September 2023.

“Motorists and road users are advised that the impact of the construction on traffic will be significant,” said Hugh Brooks, SANRAL’s Eastern Region Project Manager.

“We will endeavour to always keep a four-lane single carriageway shared by both the northbound and southbound traffic within the project limits. A two-lane traffic flow in each direction will be maintained on the N3, with minimal disruption to the traffic once traffic control measures are in place.”

Traffic accommodation would commence immediately and continue for the duration of the project, he added.

“Traffic will be accommodated safely on alternative routes when major incidents occur within the construction zone. We appeal to road users to note and comply with the advance warning signs and speed restrictions when travelling past the construction work zones.

“To prioritise the safety of both construction workers and road users, the speed limit along the route will be reduced to 40km/h for heavy vehicles and 60km/h for light motor vehicles during construction. Motorists are encouraged to plan their trips accordingly and to make provision for the additional travel time.”

Constructing the two new carriageways in a way that had the least impact on the travelling public required the division of the project into three distinct construction phases that can be summarised as follows:

• Phase 1: Roadworks

• N3 Section 3 km 7.3 to km 8.9 both northbound and southbound, including widening of N3 southbound slow lane, northbound slow lane and median. Ramps associated with the upgrade are included.
• New link road from Market Road km 1.18 to km 1.68 (500m) to Cleland Road east of interchange.
• Market Road CBD to Alan Paton Drive.
• Upgrading of Market Road west of N3.
• Upgrading of Cleland Road from Murray Road to Mkondeni Spruit.
• Upgrading of Gladys Manzi/Murray Road including bridge approaches.
• Maintenance work on Washington Road.

 

Phase 1: Structures 

• New Market Bridge km 6.752 on N3.
• Widening of Market Road rail bridge.
• Market Road bridge over Cleland Road.
• Cleland Road culvert demolition and construction km 0.700.
• Extension of existing culvert under Market Road Interchange Ramp A.
• Murray Road Overpass (Gladys Manzi Bridge).
• Epworth Underpass bridge and IC culvert extensions.
• Blackburrow Bridge over N3.

 

Phase 2: Roadworks

• N3 Section 3 5.9km – 8.6km SBC widening, including median and fast lanes.
• N3 Section 3 5.9km – 8.6km NBC widening, including median and fast lanes.
• Upgrading of Washington Road.
• Upgrading of Blackburrow Road.

Phase 3: Finishing  

• Electrical works, gantries and landscaping.

Initial stages of construction will consist of major maintenance work along the N3 and the alternative routes, as well as work within the greenfield sections. The patching, milling and asphalt overlays on the alternative routes will commence from November 2023 until July 2026, and Stop/Go restrictions will be in place. The maintenance work on the N3 will commence in early January 2024 and conclude in December 2024.

Work to be carried out on the 3.10km stretch of the N3 route concerned will include:

i. Accommodation of traffic.

ii. The existing cross-section of the N3 will be widened from 2 (NB) and 3 (SB) lanes to 4 (NB) and 5 (SB) lanes per carriageway. This will result in an average increase in surfaced width from 10.4m per carriageway to widths of between 17.4m and 21.1m per carriageway.

iii. The construction of new bridges and demolition of existing bridges. Eight bridges are included in the construction.

iv. Maintenance on various provincial roads, including patching, asphalt overlay and gravel wearing course. These roads will be used as alternative routes during incident management.

v. Additional access to the east side of the N3 will be provided by a new link road from the interchange to join Cleland Road.

vi. The layout of Epworth Interchange, while generally unchanged, will be improved in terms of how traffic from the interchange accesses the N3 and Market Road.

vii. Full reconstruction of the N3 pavement layers, with a Continuously Reinforced Concrete Pavement (CRCP) base.

viii. The construction of a concrete median barrier between the carriageways.

ix. The N3 southbound carriageway will be realigned both horizontally and vertically to allow for improvements to the Epworth Interchange.

x. The relocation and accommodation of services.

xi. Stormwater improvements along the N3 carriageways including pipe crossings, subsurface drainage systems, concrete and earth drains, cut-off drains at cuttings, manholes and grid inlets.

xii. The construction of earthworks, including high fills and large cuttings.

xiii. Stabilising cuttings using horizontal drains, drainage blanket layers, gabions, soil nails and shotcrete.

xiv. Operation, management, finishing off and rehabilitation of on-site material excavations.

xv. Crushing and screening of material.

xvi. Demolition of structures.

xvii. Construction of concrete retaining walls and Mechanical Stabilised Earth (MSE) walls to support cuttings and fills.

xviii. Construction of four major culverts.

xix. Construction of gabions for structural and drainage purposes.

xx. Other ancillary road improvement elements consisting of guardrails, road sign gantries, road signs, road markings, road studs, median barriers, stock-proof, and security fencing.

xxi. Landscaping.

xxii. Market Road Interchange is to be upgraded to Diverging Diamond Interchange (DDI).

xxiii. West of the DDI, Market Road will be widened from 1 and 2 lanes per direction to 3 lanes per direction. This upgrade extends up to and includes the intersection with Washington Road (R103) as well as the intersection with Van Eck Place.

xxiv. Gladys Manzi Road existing bridge over the N3 is to be demolished and reconstructed.

xxv. Blackburrow Road existing bridge over the N3 is to be demolished and reconstructed.

xxvi. Cleland Road will be realigned both horizontally and vertically between the new intersection with Market Road and the realigned intersection with Gladys Manzi Road.

xxvii. Gladys Manzi Road and Blackburrow Road will be realigned vertically to accommodate the new bridge overpasses over the N3. Gladys Manzi will be adjusted horizontally to allow for future widening from the current 1 lane per direction to 2 lanes per direction.

According to SANRAL, affected areas are Hayfields, Scottsville, Mkondeni, Epworth, The Meadows, Cleland and Bellevue.

The construction will also impact all motorists who travel to major destinations from Pietermaritzburg, including the Durban Port, Pietermaritzburg Airport and King Shaka International Airport.

SANRAL has also embarked on an extensive communication plan to ensure that the public is fully aware of the N3 upgrade and various considerations to reduce travel time over the next 8 to 10 years.

SANRAL has suggested that during the period of the construction the following alternative routes to the N3 are considered for use by motorists:

• • R103 / R56 / Alexandra Drive.
• • R103 / Washington Road.
• • R103 / Ritchie Road.
• • New England Road.
• • Alan Paton Road.
• • Market Road.
• • Cleland Road.
• • Blackburrow Road.
• • Gladys Manzi (Murray) Road.
• • Pope Ellis Drive.

“SANRAL would like to apologise to all motorists and road users for the inconvenience caused due to the necessary upgrades and realignment. Safety and security for all road users is the ultimate priority of the agency and we will ensure that we keep the disruptions at a manageable level,” Brooks said.

 

TRAFFIC ADVISORY: Immediate
Road upgrade underway between R72 and MR501 intersection in East London

Eastern Cape, 7 November 2023: The upgrading of the intersection between R72 Section 4 and MR501, at Kidd’s Beach in East London, is ongoing.

The project entails the lowering of the MR501 to pass underneath the R72 intersection through a concrete bridge structure, complete with the construction of the new on- and off-ramps, with new improved road signage. The anticipated completion date is May 2024.
The project is now at the stage where the roads need to be diverted in order to process with the next phases of the works.
The diversion will be in place from mid November 2023 to May 2024, during which time two-way traffic will be maintained via the diversion.

Road users of the R 72 Section 4 and MR 501 intersection, Kidd’s Beach at KM 42.08 (road marking), are requested to proceed with extreme caution on these sections of the roads and to obey the road signs and demarcations.
The traffic on the MR501 in and out of Kidd’s Beach, from the R72, will be diverted onto the new temporary bypass road to allow for the works to proceed.

“The developer of the Kidd’s Beach Green Estate Development, together with the appointed engineers, Mariswe Consulting, said that significant progress has been made to the intersection works,” said Mbulelo Peterson, SANRAL Southern Regional Manager.

MEDIA RELEASE

SANRAL TAKES PUBLIC CONSULTATIONS ON INTERIM PREFERENTIAL PROCUREMENT POLICY TO KWAZULU-NATAL

Pietermaritzburg, 6 November 2023 – The South African National Roads Agency SOC Limited (SANRAL) will on Wednesday, 8 November 2023, continue its series of stakeholder engagement session at various venues in and around KwaZulu-Natal as part of public consultations on an Interim Preferential Procurement Policy (PPP).

The main stakeholder engagement session in KwaZulu-Natal will take place at Pietermaritzburg City Hall and will also be linked virtually to venues in Durban, Kokstad and Jozini.

The decision to withdraw SANRAL’s new Preferential Procurement Policy, which came into effect in May 2023, was taken by the Board on 23 October 2023 after careful consideration of the legal challenges to the policy launched by construction companies in various courts across the country.

These legal challenges would have prevented SANRAL from processing some 80 tenders worth billions of Rands, with significant negative consequences for the fulfilment of the roads agency’s constitutional and statutory mandate.

The purpose of the stakeholder engagement meetings is to enable SANRAL to receive inputs and contributions from interested and affected stakeholders to present a roadmap for implementation of the interim PPP.

SANRAL urges all interested and affected stakeholders to participate in this consultative process to facilitate a speedy resolution to any potential obstacles that would delay the roads agency from meeting its mandate to build and maintain the country’s road infrastructure network and pursue its transformation objectives.

Satellite venues:

Durban: Olive Conference Centre

Kokstad: Kokstad Youth Centre

Jozini: Hlabisa Community Hall

For further information please contact: Zenzele Bam on 072 891 5290 or Siyabonga Khuzwayo on 083 260 3555 or sanral@fticonsulting.com

 

MEDIA ALERT

SANRAL to engage military veterans in the Eastern Cape on economic opportunities within its road infrastructure build programme 

Eastern Cape, 5 November 2023 – The South African National Roads Agency SOC Ltd (SANRAL) will host a stakeholder engagement session with military veterans in the Eastern Cape in the Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality on 7 November 2023. 

SANRAL will engage the military veterans on its transformation agenda that ensures participation of previously marginalised groups, including women, youth, people with disabilities and military veterans – in all its road infrastructure development projects.

Furthermore, the stakeholder engagement session is intended to introduce SANRAL, its road infrastructure development mandate and its policies to Eastern Cape military veterans.

Organs of state who will also be engaging the military veterans include:

• Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB);

• Eastern Cape Provincial Treasury;

• National Department of Mineral Resources and Energy;

• Small Enterprise Development Agency (SEDA); and,

• Eastern Cape Development Corporation (ECDC).
  

Members of the media are invited as follows: 

Date: Tuesday, 7 November 2023

Time: 10h00 – 13h00

Venue: Christian Centre, Abbotsford, East London

 

RSVP:

Buli Mgojo on 078 007 5787 or buli.mgojo@fticonsulting.com

MEDIA RELEASE

THREE FREE STATE PROVINCIAL ROADS FALL UNDER THE MANAGEMENT OF SANRAL

Pietermaritzburg, 3 November 2023 – Three provincial roads in the Free State scheduled for repairs and maintenance are set to fall under the jurisdiction of the South African National Roads Agency SOC Limited (SANRAL).

According to the Government Gazette of 27 October 2023, the roads handed over to SANRAL are the R26, R74 and R34, which connect the Free State to neighbouring provinces.

“The upgrades to these road corridors will provide a massive boost to the economy of the region and will greatly increase the road capacity in the area”, said Dumisani Nkabinde, Regional Manager of SANRAL’s Eastern Region.

“These areas are the lifeblood of our agricultural economy and as SANRAL we have to ensure that continuous road upgrades and maintenance will enable farmers and the rural communities to transport their goods, services and produce to the markets on roads that are safe to use.

“Under SANRAL’s management, these roads will stimulate economic activity, provide greater access for local communities and enable all motorists to travel on safe and secure roads”.

The roads that will be connecting the provinces are the R26, Ladybrand to Bethlehem, a distance of about 163km; the R34, northwest Free State provincial border to the KwaZulu-Natal provincial border covering a distance of some 406km; and the R74, connecting Harrismith in the Free State to the Kwazulu-Natal border, a distance of about 31km.

“This is a significant step towards alleviating pressure from the provinces and making roads safer. With these additions, SANRAL is moving towards expanding its network from the current 23 500km to some 35 000km,” Nkabinde said.

“This will not only benefit road users but local communities in the form of job opportunities and small businesses through sub-contracting.”