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

Eastern Cape, 26 June 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 April 2024.

The bypass will be available during construction for motorists.

“The project forms an integral part of the larger upgrades by SANRAL which are underway on the R72 route between Port Alfred and Buffalo City,” said Mbulelo Peterson, SANRAL Southern Regional Manager.
The developer of the Kidd’s Beach Green Estate Development, MHG Property Development Specialists, together with the appointed engineers, Mariswe Consulting, have awarded the tender for the upgrading of the intersection between R72 Section 4 and MR 501 (Kidd’s Beach) to the contractor, Mpumalanga Construction.

TRAFFIC ADVISORY: Immediate
Upgrade of the R336 route between Kirkwood and Addo Phase 1 in progress

Eastern Cape, 26 June 2023: The South African National Roads Agency SOC Ltd (SANRAL) wishes to advise travellers that the R336 road upgrade is in progress between Kirkwood and Addo until 13 June 2024.

Sonop Street in Kirkwood will be one way starting from the Main Street/Sonop Street intersection towards Addo, up to Mimosa Street, where only the right-hand side lane will be used as a thoroughfare. The left-hand side will be used for parking purposes only. There will be no stop-and-go in Main Street. The alternative routes for motorists travelling either from Addo on the R336 heading towards the R75, or vice versa, in town is via Mimosa Street, Shand Street and Middle Street.

The current stop-and-go section on R336 will be operational over the period of the Wildfees festival. The stop-and-go section is at the Blue Cliff intersection between km 22 and km 26 where motorists can expect to wait approximately 15 to 20 minutes at the closure. Motorists travelling from Gqeberha to Kirkwood may use the R75 and turn onto the R336 Kirkwood.

There is no alternative route for motorists travelling between Addo and Kirkwood.

“Motorists are requested to plan their trips accordingly and be cautious when using the roads. SANRAL apologises for any inconvenience caused,” said Mbulelo Peterson, SANRAL Southern Regional Manager.

TRAFFIC ADVISORY
UPDATE: Huguenot Tunnel now open in both directions

Western Cape, 17 June 2023 – The South African National Roads Agency SOC Limited (SANRAL) would like to inform road users that the Huguenot Tunnel is now open to all vehicle classes (except those transporting hazardous chemicals) in both directions, following a closure necessitated by adverse weather conditions that resulted in mudslides and rockfalls.

Du Toitskloof Pass remains affected with rock- and mudslides and Provincial Traffic is on hand to divert traffic elsewhere.
“All emergency services are on stand-by as further rain is expected. We appeal for patience and vigilance during these adverse weather conditions, with strict adherence to speed restrictions,” said Mike Vinello-Lippert, SANRAL Project Manager.

Furthermore, the N1 at De Wet, just after Worcester in the direction of De Doorns, has also been opened in both directions to all vehicle classes.

Before travelling, please ensure that the route is open to traffic and allow additional traveling time due to the current adverse weather conditions, which may affect several alternative routes at any given time.

UPDATE: N1 and Huguenot Tunnel closures due to mudslides

Western Cape, 16 June 2023 – The South African National Roads Agency SOC Limited (SANRAL) would like to update road users on the N1 and Huguenot Tunnel closures that were caused by adverse weather conditions that resulted in mudslides and rockfalls.
The Huguenot Tunnel remains open for all vehicle classes from Cape Town to Worcester.
Class 1 (light) motor vehicles may now proceed through the tunnel, from Worcester to Cape Town, but heavy vehicles are not yet accommodated as the truck check lanes are still covered in mud, with big rocks still blocking the R101.
Du Toitskloof Pass remains affected with rock- and mudslides and Provincial Traffic is on hand to divert traffic elsewhere.
“All emergency services have been activated to clear the road, in order to fully re-open the tunnel to all vehicle classes. We appeal for patience and vigilance during these adverse weather conditions, with strict adherence to speed restrictions,” said Mike Vinello-Lippert, SANRAL Project Manager.
Furthermore, the N1 at De Wet, just after Worcester in the direction of De Doorns has since been opened in both directions but trucks are still being diverted via the R43, through Ceres. Provincial Traffic is on hand.
Before travelling, please ensure that the route is open to traffic and allow additional traveling time due to the current adverse weather conditions, which may affect several alternative routes.

 

 

MEDIA STATEMENT

 

MEDIA RELEASE
SANRAL TO PLAY MAJOR ROLE IN IMPROVING ROADS IN MPUMALANGA

Tuesday, 13 June 2023 – The improvement of Mpumalanga’s road network is set to be intensified with Transport Minister Sindisiwe Chikunga announcing various maintenance and upgrade programmes to be implemented throughout the province.

During her ministerial oversight visit to Mpumalanga, Chikunga highlighted the importance of the continued improvement of municipal and provincial roads to help bolster economic development.
“We’ve brought together all spheres of government to address the state of municipal and provincial roads in Mpumalanga,” she said.

According to the mayors of many of the province’s municipalities, roads managed by the South African National Roads Agency SOC Limited (SANRAL) were in a far better condition. As such, Chikunga announced that the province had been encouraged to identify strategic roads that could be handed over to be managed by SANRAL.

“We’ve requested the province to identify strategic roads as well as gravel roads to be handed over to SANRAL,” she said. “These will include roads that lead to heritage and tourism sites, along with roads that connect the province to neighbouring countries.”

Of Mpumalanga’s 39 000km road network, about 2 400km is currently being managed by SANRAL. Chikunga stated that while the process of identifying these strategic roads was already underway, it needed to be intensified to help the National Department of Transport plan.

In August last year, Operation Vala Zonke was launched in Mpumalanga. While Minister Chikunga lauded its success in the province, she also stated that there was still a need to intensify its implementation.

Operation Vala Zonke resulted in the patching of 209 996 square metres of potholes and resealing of a further 516 730 square metres during the previous financial year. This year the Provincial Department of Public Works, Roads and Transport plans to patch 142 000 square metres of potholes and reseal another 1 150 000 square metres.

“Where we’re able to reseal or rehabilitate the road, we will do so, but where we’re hindered due to budget constraints, we will intensify the patching of potholes so that roads are usable,” confirmed the Minister.

Mpumalanga’s strategic location has seen it emerge as an important route for the passage of heavy-duty freight vehicles which has had a severe impact on the condition of the province’s roads.

In addressing this, Chikunga encouraged the province to identify roads for the Adopt-A-Road Campaign in terms of which the Department would lobby the private sector to assume responsibility for the maintenance of those haulage routes.
“We will engage mining companies, road freight companies and other industries to adopt certain roads, those roads will remain public roads but will be maintained by private companies as they are contributors to the rapid degradation of those roads,” she said.

In a continued effort to ensure the improvement of Mpumalanga’s roads, the province will receive R1.4 billion from the National Treasury in the form of the Provincial Road Maintenance Grant. Seventy-five percent of this grant is to be used for the maintenance of roads while the remaining 25% is to be allocated towards construction and upgrades.

Public Works, Roads and Transport MEC, Mandla Ndlovu, welcomed the Minister’s intervention, adding that the province had allocated R405 million towards the rehabilitation and upgrading of the strategic road network in the province during the current financial year.
“We’ll continue working with the national department as well as other stakeholders to ensure that our roads are maintained at an acceptable standard, we also urge all road users to support us by respecting all the rules and regulations of the road,” said Ndlovu.

 

Partial road closure of the N1, Section 21, both Northbound and Southbound

Friday, 2 June 2023 – The South African National Roads Agency SOC Limited (SANRAL) wishes to inform motorists that partial road closures are scheduled to take place along the N1 national road, Section 21, between Kosmosdal Samrand Interchange and Rooihuiskraal Interchange, in Midrand, Gauteng Province per the detailed table below:

	Dates	Starting Time	Ending Time	Area/ Location
Commence Date:	Saturday, 10 June 2023	06h00	18h00	Midrand
End Date:	Sunday, 11 June 2023	06h00	12h00	Midrand

Dates Starting Time Ending Time Area/ Location Commence Date: Saturday, 10 June 2023 06h00 18h00 Midrand End Date: Sunday, 11 June 2023 06h00 12h00 Midrand

These partial road closures are required to allow Eskom to perform essential work necessary to install new overhead transmission power lines and a conductor which supplies electricity to the area. SANRAL advises that only daytime closures will be applied on Saturdays from 6am to 6pm, and Sundays from 6am and 12pm. The lanes will be closed in stages for a short period of around 30 minutes, however, complete closure will be required when cables are dragged across the road.

The closures may need to be adjusted depending on weather conditions on the day. If needed, a second advisory with information on the new times will be issued.

SANRAL warns that these partial closures may introduce disruptions to the normal travel times for motorists travelling in the afternoon, resulting in delays towards the evening.

Detours have also been identified and will be signposted. Johannesburg Metropolitan Police (JMPD) and Tshwane Metropolitan Police (TMPD) officials will be deployed to monitor and manage traffic and ensure minimal disruptions. Motorists will be diverted via the R101 for the detour route (Please see attached diagram)

Motorists are advised to plan their trips accordingly, consider the alternative routes recommended and practise caution when using the roads.

SANRAL apologises for any inconvenience caused during this period and will continue to provide updates to road users as information becomes available. 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.