Blog

Blasting scheduled at Breidbach Interchange

sizwesethu.futshaneauthor1251views0comments

TRAFFIC ADVISORY: Immediate

Blasting scheduled at Breidbach Interchange

Eastern Cape, 12 April 2023: The South African National Roads Agency SOC Ltd (SANRAL) wishes to advise travellers that controlled blasting is scheduled to take place at the Breidbach Interchange on the N2 near eQonce (formerly King Williams Town) at 3pm on Friday, 14 April 2023.

The N2, between eQonce and East London and Welkom Street, will be closed for approximately 30 minutes.

The alternative route for motorists coming from the East London side is to take the R102 at the Berlin Interchange and proceed through the Ilitha, Ndevana and Phakamisa townships to join the R346 to eQonce. The diversion is through Zwelitsha. Similarly, from eQonce to East London, motorists are advised to take the R346 towards Zwelitsha and then take the R102 towards Phakamisa, Ndevana and Ilitha townships and then join the N2 at the Berlin Interchange.

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

 

TEMPORARY LANE CLOSURES ON N2

sizwesethu.futshaneauthor3676views0comments

TRAFFIC ADVISORY

TEMPORARY LANE CLOSURES ON N2

Durban, 12 April 2023 – Overhead works will be performed under the Sarnia Road Bridge on the N2 southbound with effect from Wednesday, 12 April 2023, as part of ongoing infrastructure improvements, the South African National Roads Agency SOC Ltd (SANRAL) has said.

“This will require a temporary slow/middle lane closure from 9h00 to 15h00 from 12 to 14 April 2023. For the safety of workers and the public, a 70m section of the emergency lane is temporarily closed for one week until 17 April 2023,” said Serisha Sukraj, SANRAL’s Eastern Region Project Engineer.

Motorists are advised to plan their routes accordingly and to allow for extra travel time.

“SANRAL apologises for any inconvenience this may cause and ask for the understanding of motorists as they work to make the necessary upgrades,” said Sukraj.

 

TEMPORARY RAMP CLOSURE AT UMLAAS ROAD INTERCHANGE ON N3 SECTION 2

sizwesethu.futshaneauthor5504views0comments

TEMPORARY RAMP CLOSURE AT UMLAAS ROAD INTERCHANGE ON N3 SECTION 2

Pietermaritzburg 11 April 2023 – The northbound off-ramp of the Umlaas Road (Umbumbulu) Interchange (no 61) on the N3 between Camperdown and Pietermaritzburg will be temporary closed on 14 April 2023 for approximately three (3) months, the South African National Roads Agency SOC Limited (SANRAL) has said.

“Motorists traveling north on the N3 from Durban towards R56, Richmond, Thornville or Umbumbulu are advised to take the Camperdown off-ramp and to turn left onto the R103 towards the R603 and Umlaas Road, as per the yellow route indicated below,” said Corne? Roux, SANRAL’s Eastern Region Project Engineer.

The closure is necessary to lower the existing N3 in the vicinity of the current access, as part of the current upgrade of the N3 from a four-lane to an eight-lane freeway.

SANRAL apologises for any inconvenience caused.

 

SANRAL puts road safety first this Easter weekend

sizwesethu.futshaneauthor1352views0comments

SANRAL puts road safety first this Easter weekend

Western Cape, 8 April 2023 – As roads authorities across the country are out in full operation this weekend, in preparation for busier than normal roads, the South African National Roads Agency SOC Limited (SANRAL) in the Western Cape was leading by example. SANRAL set up a road safety activation station at the Shell Ultra City Breede Valley, just outside Worcester, where road users were treated to a relaxing experience in preparation for the next leg of their journeys.From head and shoulder massages, flavoured oxygen, express manicures and some fun and games for the children, the activation station was buzzing with road users popping in to show their commitment to road safety, or simply to find out what the fuss was about.

The N1 north is particularly busy, with road users making their way to holiday destinations and relatives for the long weekend and school holidays.

Lee-Anne and Leonard Williams, from Cape Town, who were on their way to Heidelberg, travelling with a busy toddler, welcomed the opportunity to stop, stretch their legs and break the routine for two-year-old Myles. “The peppermint oxygen is such a fresh burst of oxygen to your lungs. You really feel it opening your nasal passages and you actually feel refreshed and ready for the road,” said Leonard.

“The road has not been too busy. So far, so good. There is a very strong traffic law enforcement presence on the road and the increased visible policing gives one a sese of comfort,” said Lee-Anne.The Morgan family stopped by to see the source of the excitement. Travelling from Cape Town to Mpumalanga, they started their journey on Thursday, but then turned back due to congestion. “Having seen the crazy traffic volumes, we decided to delay our trip by one day and we are not sorry. The roads are so much quieter today. It has been a pleasure so far,” said Brigitte Morgan, who is sharing the driving with her husband.

On Thursday, some 14 036 vehicles had passed through the Huguenot Tunnel out of Cape Town, with 7671 vehicles headed to Cape Town.The Freeway Management System (FMS), jointly operated by SANRAL, the Western Cape Government and the City of Cape Town, will be monitoring the busiest freeways across the province, to ensure road users get the assistance they need, in the event of an incident.

“Road safety is a partnership. SANRAL and other stakeholders in the roads space design and engineer safer roads, and law enforcement authorities enforce the rules of the road. We need each and every road user to use this shared space with utmost respect for one another. Together we reduce road crashes.” said Randall Cable, SANRAL’s Western Region Manager.

“SANRAL’s Road Safety One campaign calls on each individual, to make the one choice that can save a life. From taking regular breaks, reducing speed and keeping our roads booze free. Together we can save lives.”

SANRAL says special thank you to travel-weary motorists during Easter road safety drive in East London

sizwesethu.futshaneauthor1316views0comments

MEDIA STATEMENT: Immediate

SANRAL says special thank you to travel-weary motorists during Easter road safety drive in East London

Eastern Cape, 8 April 2023: It was a case of Stop-and-Stay as motorists lined up at the already busy Abbotsford filling station in East London – many tired from long journeys to Easter family gatherings. At first, they were curious, and then very thankful, as they chatted to welcoming staff of the South African National Roads Agency SOC Limited (SANRAL).

The roads agency took its Easter Road Safety campaign to East London, the heart of the Eastern Cape – kicking off at the very popular filling station, set in a high-traffic area, recently.

The Abbotsford intersection serves as a connecting point for motorists travelling the N2 between Mthatha and Gqeberha and the N6, which links East London with provinces such as Free State and Gauteng.
Affable and knowledgeable, SANRAL staff interacted with motorists, offering critical road safety information and tips for long-distance travel.
While some SANRAL staff engaged with motorists this way, others were caring for road users another way.

Mindful that driving, or even just sitting in a car, for hours on end can be exhausting, SANRAL rolled out express pampering sessions for weary travellers.
The huge pop-up event, complete with a giant tent, couches and cool fresh-water bottles, saw weary motorists gratefully accepting oxygen therapy and enjoying massages (which were long enough for their other half to have a manicure) – all while excited children had their faces painted nearby.
Refreshed and revived after his stop, motorist Jaco Viljoen, travelling from Pretoria to Gqeberha with his wife and two sons, said he considered himself a double winner.

He had earlier participated in the SANRAL Quiz and won an essential SANRAL toolkit.
Said Viljoen: “We are having the time of our lives, I won the prize and I’m loving it. My wife got a massage and my boys had their faces painted. This is a wonderful idea, thank you, SANRAL.”

Viljoen said he appreciated the advice and tips he had received and cautioned other motorists to not take chances, avoid speeding and take time to rest.
Another driver, Amanda Hlahleni, an Abbotsford resident on a family trip to Mthatha, said: “I had such a great massage and the flavoured oxygen I inhaled, at the oxygen bar, has boosted my energy.

“My back is now relaxed and I’ll still be fresh when I arrive in Mthatha.”

Monwabisi Mkoyise, from Ndevana township near Qonce, said he had received the best treatment he could wish for as a traveller.
Mkoyise and his family were on their way to Komani.

SANRAL Southern Region Stakeholders’ Coordinator Welekazi Ndika said such SANRAL activities are essential to saving lives and ensuring that everyone arrives safely at their destination.

“We want people to arrive at their destinations, alive.”
Ndika was also proud of SANRAL’s environmental awareness drive, which aims to encourage motorists to refrain from throwing garbage out of car windows, but instead use bins when they stop.

Cooking oil spill creates slippery road on R56

sizwesethu.futshaneauthor1321views0comments

TRAFFIC ADVISORY: Immediate

Cooking oil spill creates slippery road on R56

Eastern Cape, 6 April 2023: The South African National Roads Agency SOC Limited (SANRAL) wishes to advise travellers that the R56 between Mt Fletcher and Matatiele is slippery. A truck lost its cargo of cooking oil which was spilled along the road.

“The clean-up operation by a hazardous material team was completed this week after the incident, but the road still needs to be treated with caution when driving through that area,” said Mbulelo Peterson, SANRAL Southern Regional Manager.

SANRAL’s routine road maintenance team has advised that the road could still be slippery, especially if rain is experienced in that area.

“Motorists are requested to reduce speed and travel with caution on the road,” said Peterson.

 

SANRAL appeals to road users to plan their journeys this Easter weekend.

sizwesethu.futshaneauthor1159views0comments

MEDIA RELEASE

SANRAL appeals to road users to plan their journeys this Easter weekend.

Gauteng, 5 April 2023 – Let us commit to stopping road carnage in its tracks! This is the appeal from the South African National Roads Agency SOC Limited (SANRAL) to road users travelling during the Easter weekend.

“Already we have seen some crashes reported, with the long weekend still looming. While this is not a good start, it should be a wake-up call to road users to do the right thing and make that one decision that can save a life,” said Vusi Mona, SANRAL’s General Manager for Communications and Marketing.

Around Easter we see an increase in traffic volumes on our national roads. The N4 eastbound, will be busy, as it not only links Gauteng to Mpumalanga, but the corridor is a link to Mozambique and eSwatini.

The N3 from Gauteng to KZN is another hugely popular holiday route that will see many people head to the coast for the Easter break and school holidays.

In the Western Cape, the N1 north and the N2 up the Garden Route and into the Eastern Cape are likely to be extremely busy, in both directions, and road users are requested to proceed with caution, courtesy and a realisation that roads are a shared space, for all road users, including cyclists and pedestrians.

Through the Freeway Management System (FMS), SANRAL, in partnership with law enforcement agencies, will be monitoring the busiest freeways across the country, to enable a speedy and most appropriate response to any incident on the network. Operators are already detecting and responding to incidents in under three minutes – a critical time when every second counts, to save a life.

Too many avoidable crashes are still taking place due to fatigue and drunken driving. To this end SANRAL’s Road Safety One campaign reminds road users to stay alert, observe road rules and take regular breaks, every two hours or 200km.

Waste management on the road is another area of concern and road users are reminded to not litter, but rather use the bins placed at rest stops along the different routes.

“It is not too late to stop road carnage. Let us take collective responsibility for our safety and that of all other road users, and ensure we all arrive safely home,” said Mona.

 

Upgrade of the R336 route between Kirkwood and Addo has commenced

sizwesethu.futshaneauthor15912views0comments

TRAFFIC ADVISORY: Immediate
Upgrade of the R336 route between Kirkwood and Addo has commenced

Eastern Cape, 4 April 2023: The South African National Roads Agency SOC Limited (SANRAL) wishes to advise travellers that the R336 road upgrade is in progress between Kirkwood and Addo until 13 June 2024.

Phase one of the upgrade will include stop-and-go sections where motorists must expect to wait approximately 10 minutes at each closure.

The current stop-and-go sections will also be operational over the Easter weekend.

The stop-and-go section at Sonop Street in Kirkwood is between Mimosa Street and Main Street. The alternative route for motorists travelling either from Addo on the R336 heading towards the R75, or vice versa, in town is via Mimosa Street, Middle Street, Shand Street and Whyte Street.

The second stop-and-go section is between km 22 (4km west of Kirkwood) and km 26 (1km west of the Blue Cliff intersection). Motorists travelling from Gqeberha to Kirkwood may use the R75 and turn onto the R336 Kirkwood.

There is no alternative surfaced 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.

Plans to reseal N2 between Jeffreys Bay, Gamtoos River will ease traffic flow, create jobs

sizwesethu.futshaneauthor2301views0comments

Welekazi Ndika, SANRAL Southern Region’s Stakeholder Coordinator engages stakeholders about plans for the reseal project between Jeffreys Bay and Gamtoos River.

MEDIA RELEASE: IMMEDIATE

Plans to reseal N2 between Jeffreys Bay, Gamtoos River will ease traffic flow, create jobs

Eastern Cape, 1 April 2023 – The reseal of the N2 National Road between the Jeffreys Bay and Gamtoos River in the Eastern Cape Province will improve the surfacing for a smooth and safer travel experience in the area, the South African National Roads Agency SOC Limited (SANRAL) has announced.

The R57-million project will also create the much-needed job opportunities for the local community and SMMEs of the Sarah Baartman District Municipality.

The adjudication process of the tender is currently underway, and a contractor will be appointed in due course.

Faheem Vahed, SANRAL Southern Region’s Project Manager said: “Work that will be done on the project will include the rehabilitation of the carriageway in the form of crack sealing, fog spray, texture slurry and rut filling. Also included in the scope of work are base repairs, the reseal of the carriageway, clearing and grubbing, traffic accommodation and road markings.

“As is the norm with standard SANRAL practice, 30% of the contract value will be given to local SMMEs; a minimum of 5% of this value will be given to those SMMEs that are at least 51% owned by young people, another 5% will be given to those that are least 51% owned by women and an additional 1% of the contract value will be given to those local SMMEs that are at least 51% owned by military veterans.”

SANRAL’s practice of appointing contractors on its projects is guided by the road agency’s transformation policy. SANRAL’s transformation policy is designed to maximise emerging contractors’ participation and principally benefitting them in the roads agency’s projects.

“Our 14 Point Plan, which is an intervention in ensuring that previously disadvantaged individuals benefit from our projects, continues to assist in ensuring transparency and inclusivity with local communities that will work on SANRAL projects,” said Welekazi Ndika, Stakeholder Coordinator for SANRAL’s Southern Region.

Ndika added: “Through our 14 Point Plan, we envisage to already have established a Project Liaison Committee (PLC) when the project starts. The PLC will assist in creating a platform for project liaison, works execution, subcontracting and facilitating employment opportunities for local community members. All community representatives, including the youth, women, people with disabilities and military veterans, must be represented in the PLC.”

As part of SANRAL’s ongoing efforts to encourage participation by local SMMEs who tender for and work on its projects, the roads agency will provide various training for those who will benefit from the project.

“Pre-tender training will be provided for those SMMEs who will be involved in the project and they will be equipped with the necessary theoretical information and skills required for pursuing a future in construction, managing a business, managing contracts, and equipping them with the necessary skills on how to compile and submit a compliant tender document. This training is targeted at contractors who fall within Grades 1 to 4, as prescribed by the Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB),” said Ndika.

SMMEs interested in the training programme will be screened and required to submit their CIDB and Companies and Intellectual Property Commission (CIPC) documents, including tax compliance with the South African Revenue Services (SARS), registration on government’s Central Supplier Database (CSD), and proof of their highest school qualification.

“Owners of SMMEs may also nominate someone to attend the training on their company’s behalf. This will be done by submitting a letter of authority to nominate the person on behalf of the company, proof of residence of the owner of the business, a letter of commitment to attend the training and the adjoining seven days’ assessment. SMMEs will also be required to undergo a mathematical assessment for enrolment on the programme,” concluded Ndika.

 

Blasting scheduled at Breidbach Interchange

sizwesethu.futshaneauthor1138views0comments

TRAFFIC ADVISORY: Immediate

Blasting scheduled at Breidbach Interchange

Eastern Cape, 31 March 2023: The South African National Roads Agency SOC Ltd (SANRAL) wishes to advise travellers that controlled blasting is scheduled to take place at the Breidbach Interchange on the N2 near eQonce (formerly King Williams Town) at 3pm on Wednesday, 5 April 2023.

The N2, between eQonce and East London and Welkom Street, will be closed for approximately 30 minutes.

The alternative route for motorists coming from the East London side is to take the R102 at the Berlin Interchange and proceed through the Ilitha, Ndevana and Phakamisa townships to join the R346 to eQonce. The diversion is through Zwelitsha. Similarly, from eQonce to East London, motorists are advised to take the R346 towards Zwelitsha and then take the R102 towards Phakamisa, Ndevana and Ilitha townships and then join the N2 at the Berlin Interchange.

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