Blog

Belstone and Breidbach Interchanges project will change the landscape

SANRALauthor3029views0comments

By the end of December 2022 the Belstone Interchange was 42% complete.

The Belstone and Breidbach Interchanges project in eQonce in Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality is up to date. The estimated project value is R438 million (incl. VAT), and the anticipated completion date is June 2024. The completed Belstone Interchange will include one loop and off-ramp, which will improve safety for both drivers and pedestrians by easing traffic flow between East London and eQonce. The Breidbach Interchange will also see construction of a link road from Breidbach towards Sweetwaters, as well as a free-flowing interchange at Belstone Bridge, and dualling of the road to Bhisho. The end result will be improved management of traffic flow from Bhisho, Breidbach, Zwelitsha and East London, and improved safety for pedestrians.

Construction ramped up on R573 Moloto Road

SANRALauthor1433views0comments

Road user behaviour has been identified as a major contributing factor to horrific crashes and fatalities on the Moloto Road. Part of the planned intervention to promote road safety includes widening the current single-lane carriageway into a dual-lane carriageway in each direction, adding a shoulder, and closing off illegal access points. SANRAL has also introduced four traffic circles/roundabouts – three in Mpumalanga and one in Limpopo – to serve as speed-calming measures and to minimise fatalities. SANRAL has invested R3.7 billion for the first phase of the R573 Moloto Road in the Mpumalanga and Limpopo sections. SMMEs will benefit to the tune of 30% of the project value. In line with SANRAL’s Transformation Policy, the inclusion of youth- and women-owned businesses will be prioritised.

N2 facelift in KZN

SANRALauthor1113views0comments



President Ramaphosa introduced the ‘stimulus package’ as a new measure “to reignite growth, stimulate economic recovery and secure confidence in sectors affected by regulatory uncertainty and inconsistency”. Projects earmarked as part of this include a R1.2 billion upgrading of the N2 KwaMashu interchange to Umdloti River to five lanes in both directions, from the KwaMashu interchange to Mount Edgecombe interchange, as well as four lanes in both directions to the Umdloti River Bridge.

SANRAL updates local stakeholders on N2 Wild Coast Road Project

sizwesethu.futshaneauthor3121views0comments

MEDIA RELEASE

SANRAL updates local stakeholders on N2 Wild Coast Road Project

Eastern Cape, 10 March 2023 – The South African National Roads Agency SOC Limited (SANRAL) updated local stakeholders at a two-day engagement session on the progress made on the N2 Wild Coast Road Project and other adjacent projects in Pondoland, Eastern Cape. The sessions took place recently in Lusikisiki and near Port Edward, respectively. Local SMMEs who aspire to benefit from the projects, municipal leaders, members from designated groups such as the youth, women and people with disabilities, as well as local traditional leaders, attended.

“Construction on the Msikaba Bridge project started in 2019 and it is still ongoing, on both the south and north sites. The project is valued at R1.65 billion and has been under construction since 2019. By the end of January this year, R75,6 million (excluding VAT) had been spent on wages on the Msikaba Bridge project. Of the 528 staff on site, 424 (80%) are local people of which 177 are skilled staff and 247 are unskilled workers. About R454 million has been paid to 120 SMMEs, who are all from surrounding areas,” said Craig McLachlan, SANRAL’s Project Manager on the N2 Wild Coast Road Project.

“Additional initiatives that have been undertaken include the training of local 131 SMMEs from Ingquza Hill, Winnie Madikizela-Mandela and Port St Johns local municipalities. This training was offered through SANRAL’s national training programme to develop SMMEs. About 257 community members received skills development training in catering and hygiene, welding and crop production,” said McLachlan.

The N2 Mtentu Bridge project, on the other hand, was awarded to China Communications Construction Company (CCCC) and MECSA Construction joint venture (CCCC MECSA JV) at R4.05billion on 1 November 2022. It is estimated that up to 200 SMMEs will benefit from the project, while an estimated 2500 full-time equivalent jobs are expected to be created.

“The scope of the new Mtentu tender has been expanded from the original terminated contract to include the upgrading of 18km of a provincial road, linking the future Mkhambati Interchange to the Flagstaff-Holy Cross road, and providing a direct link from the future N2 to the town of Flagstaff, as well as the construction of three nearby community access roads,” added McLachlan.

Once completed, the Mtentu Bridge will be the highest in Africa and it will be one of the longest main- span balanced cantilever bridges in the world, with a main span of 260 meters at a maximum height of around 223 meters.

The socio-economic impact of the R20 billion Wild Coast project can never be downplayed because the project will offer a significant economic injection for the local communities. The minimum 30% expenditure earmarked for targeted enterprise subcontractors and suppliers will result in more than R4 billion flowing to SMMEs, the majority of whom will be from the OR Tambo and Alfred Nzo district municipalities.

In addition to the R20 billion road greenfield N2 Highway, the recent transfer to SANRAL of the R61 between Port St Johns and Port Edward will see numerous maintenance, rehabilitation and reconstruction projects rolled out by SANRAL over the next 10 years, further increasing the range and number of opportunities for SMMEs from the Port St John’s, Ingquza Hill and Winnie Madikizela Mandela Local Municipalities.

Progress has also been made on the awarding of Packages Four and Five of the project. Valued at R2.25 billion, about R804 and R183 million has been earmarked for local SMMEs and local labour, respectively, on Package Four. The project entails construction of the N2 Wild Coast highway between Lingeni and the Msikaba Bridge.

Similarly, Package Five, which will see the construction of the N2 highway and associated local roads between Msikaba and Mtentu, is valued at R2.5 billion and about R891 million and R204 million has been earmarked for local SMMEs and local labour, respectively.

BLASTING TO BE CONDUCTED NEAR THE CAMPERDOWN OVERPASS BRIDGE ON THE N3

sizwesethu.futshaneauthor4953views0comments

TRAFFIC ADVISORY

BLASTING TO BE CONDUCTED NEAR THE CAMPERDOWN OVERPASS BRIDGE ON THE N3

Pietermaritzburg, 10 March 2023 – Rock outcrops that have been found near the Camperdown Overpass Bridge will need to be removed through blasting for the construction of the stormwater system as well as pavement layers, the South African National Roads Agency SOC Limited (SANRAL) has announced.

This forms part of the ongoing N3 upgrades from the Cato Ridge Interchange to the northern end of the Dardanelles Cutting.

“The blasting will be carried out on Tuesday, 14 March 2023 at 14h00. All closures will be immediately removed as soon as the site of blasting has been declared safe. Should a second blasting procedure be required, this will be carried out on Thursday, 16 March 2023, at 14h00,” said Thabiso Dladla, SANRAL’s Eastern Region Project Manager.

Temporary road closures in the vicinity of the Overpass Bridge will be put in place on the R103. The on ramps at Cato Ridge Interchange and Camperdown Interchange will be temporarily closed during the blast. The road closures should not delay traffic for more than 10 minutes.

“The speed limit along the route has been reduced to 80km/hr to improve safety to the construction team and road users. Lane closures can be expected in the evening to permit construction vehicles from safely entering and exiting the work zone and the public will be informed in advance of such activity,” said Dladla.

Delays are expected, as a result of the reduced speed limit, so motorists are urged to plan their trips

carefully and be vigilant along the road during their travels.

“We further appeal to road users to adhere to the road signs and speed limit when approaching and travelling through the construction site. SANRAL apologises for any inconvenience this may cause and ask for your understanding as they make the necessary upgrades,” said Dladla.

Blasting scheduled at Breidbach Interchange

sizwesethu.futshaneauthor1215views0comments

TRAFFIC ADVISORY: Immediate
Blasting scheduled at Breidbach Interchange

Eastern Cape, 8 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 Tuesday, 14 March 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.

SANRAL’s road project to create 500 jobs and subcontracting opportunities for SMMEs

sizwesethu.futshaneauthor2558views0comments

MEDIA STATEMENT

SANRAL’s road project to create 500 jobs and subcontracting opportunities for SMMEs

Eastern Cape, 7 March 2023: A R1,2-billion road upgrade project by the South African National Roads Agency SOC Limited (SANRAL) will create 500 jobs and subcontracting opportunities for 60 small, medium, and micro enterprises (SMMEs) in one of the poorest regions of South Africa.

SANRAL shared details of the project at a recent gathering where the contractor was introduced to local communities. The contract entails the upgrade of a 39.4km stretch of the N2 between kwaBhaca and emaXesibeni, in the Alfred Nzo district.

The scope of the work includes the widening of the existing cross-section with surfaced shoulders and the introduction of climbing lanes and the construction of three new bridges as well as three major culverts.

Eastern Cape-based Rumdel Cape Construction (Pty) Ltd has been awarded the main contract of the 45 month-long project. It is expected that at least 60 subcontracting opportunities will be created for local SMMEs. At least 500 people will be employed on the project.

The acting speaker for Umzimvubu local Municipality, Nkosomzi Nomnganga, has urged the business forums and the communities to work together to ensure the smooth flow of the project which will bring about much needed job opportunities and better roads infrastructure.

He said: “SANRAL has responded to our proposals for better roads which includes employment opportunities. On behalf of the municipality, I want to urge our business forums and communities to ensure that no-one disrupts the project if they are dissatisfied or unhappy about it.”

“We urge all stakeholders, including the Project Liaison Committee (PLC), to cooperate with SANRAL to remove all obstacles and resolve all disagreements so that the work doesn’t stop and result in unnecessary financial losses.”

The Chairperson of Alfred Nzo Business Forum, Siyabonga Hlalekela, said he has taken one of the four seats allocated to business in the PLC. The composition of the PLC accommodates four business representatives to ensure that SMMEs in both the towns of kwaBhaca and emaXesibeni are represented.

Hlalekela said: “As the Umzimvubu business forum we are happy that we are going to benefit from what is invested and we are hoping that this project will ensure growth for some of our SMMEs.

“We will continue engaging other businesspeople who are not part of our forums to ensure the smooth progress of the development. Our message to everyone in business is that one doesn’t need to belong to a certain business forum to partake in the project and SMMEs must not hinder the development if their company are not awarded a subcontract.”

He urged the SMME representatives to take part in the training that SANRAL provides through its training service provider, ACS/Tjeka Joint Venture.

ACS/Tjeka Training empowers local people with skills that will enable them to access opportunities made available by SANRAL through the project.

In his presentation, facilitator Zoleka Mathangana urged SMMEs willing to participate in the training to organise themselves according to the areas that they live in, to minimise traveling costs.

Participants will obtain skills in preparing tender documents and running their businesses efficiently. They will also receive Construction SETA Accredited certificates.

Rumdel Cape director, Prince Mzwandile Faku, has assured the SMMEs that they will benefit from the project but warned that only those fit for purpose will be awarded subcontracts.

Faku said: “Our aim is to leave a legacy of infrastructure that lasts longer than the guaranteed period and we want local people who participated in the project to have something after we have left the area.”

He said information was key and in the next three months there will be an overflow of information to all key stakeholders.

“Sometimes people disrupt projects because there was poor consultation, sometimes (it is because) they didn’t know how to participate. We are pleased with the three-month consultation period because it’s during this period that information about the project and its scope goes out to interested parties. People need to understand that four years is a long period, you may not get a contract immediately, but you may find out about future needs of the project and how to supply for that,” said Faku.

Welekazi Ndika, Stakeholder Engagement and Communication Officer at SANRAL’s Southern Region, introduced the Contractor and the Supervision Consulting Engineers, Zutari (Pty) Ltd, to the communities.

Ndika urged the Umzimvubu traditional leaders, transport representatives, ratepayers, and the affected wards to elect their representatives to the PLC.

“We want to make sure that all the critical stakeholders are represented in the PLC and members of the PLC must communicate with their constituencies, because in the end we don’t want any disgruntled individual to mobilise and block the N2,” she said.

The project forms part of the multi-billion-rand infrastructure investment that SANRAL continues to make in the Alfred Nzo district, one of the poorest regions in the country.

Towards the end of 2022, SANRAL awarded a construction project of a similar value of R1.2-billion to Down Touch Investments in the Alfred Nzo District Municipality, for the rehabilitation of the R56 from its local municipality of Matatiele to KwaZulu-Natal Border.

The R4.05-billion Mtentu Bridge contract on the N2 Wild Coast Road (N2WCR) project is also within the Alfred Nzo district.

The Mtentu Bridge contract was awarded to Chinese Communications Construction Company and its Joint Venture partners, and the work is set to commence from the beginning of March 2023.

Eastern Cape Premier Oscar Mabuyane has also mentioned the strides SANRAL was making in provincial roads infrastructure development and said the N2 Wild Coast development will connect the region to a gazetted Eastern Seaboard Development with KwaZulu-Natal and urged the provincial citizens to submit their comments.

Mabuyane said: “We are moving with greater speed by working with SANRAL to construct road arteries that connect our people to social services and economic centres in the N2 Wild Coast. We will soon be breaking ground on the road from Lingeni to Msikaba and from Msikaba to Mtentu.”

He said SANRAL will invest over R4-billion for the construction of the N2 from kwaBhaca to Ngcweleni River, the N2 Ndabakazi Interchange, the N2 from Gamtoos River to Van Stadens River and projects which include the R58 from Cala to Ngcobo, the R336 from Kirkwood to Addo and the R390 from Cradock to Hofmeyer.

Both lanes open on R27 at Keimoes

sizwesethu.futshaneauthor16376views0comments

TRAFFIC ADVISORY
Both lanes open on R27 at Keimoes

Northern Cape, 6 March 2023 – The South African National Roads Agency SOC Limited (SANRAL) would like to inform road users that both lanes on the R27 in Keimoes have been re-opened, following a full closure more than seven days ago.

In the interest of public safety, SANRAL, along with Provincial Traffic, had closed a portion of the R27, Section 11 in Keimoes, due to flood conditions.

The water levels have since subsided, the road condition has been assessed and a decision was taken that it is safe to re-open the road.

“We wish to thank the Provincial Traffic authorities for their assistance in redirecting traffic onto alternative routes. We are also grateful to the public for their patience and understanding during this inconvenience and want to assure road users that we will continue to prioritise road safety,” said Randall Cable, SANRAL Western Region Manager.

SANRAL congratulates new Transport Minister

sizwesethu.futshaneauthor1924views0comments

MEDIA RELEASE

SANRAL congratulates new Transport Minister

Pretoria, 7 March 2023 – The South African National Roads Agency SOC Limited (SANRAL) extends warm congratulations to the new Minister of Transport, Ms Sindisiwe Chikunga, following last night’s Cabinet reshuffle by President Cyril Ramaphosa.

“Minister Chikunga is no stranger to the transport portfolio, having served two terms as Deputy Minister (DM). Her appointment, which also renders her the shareholder for SANRAL, is welcomed with open arms,” said SANRAL Board Chairperson, Mr Themba Mhambi.

“Now, more than ever, the transport portfolio needs continuity and firm leadership, which is exactly what Minister Chikunga brings to the table. “While SANRAL has recently appointed a new CEO, it has largely retained the expertise in its Board, and coupled with a Minister who is acutely familiar with the portfolio and has an appetite for prioritising infrastructure development and transformation, the sector can only benefit from this continuity,” said Mhambi. The Board Chairperson also congratulated the new Deputy Minister of Transport, Mr Lisa Mangcu.

“The Deputy Minister, having served as Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee for Transport, is also very familiar with the sector and will no doubt play a pivotal role in supporting the Minister’s priorities for the greater transport sector,”

Mhambi said. “SANRAL looks forward to working with its new political leadership and pledges its ongoing commitment to serving the road users of South Africa.” Mhambi also paid SANRAL’s tribute to the former Minister of Transport Mr Fikile Mbalula. “Minister Mbalula was greatly supportive to the SANRAL Board during his tenure. His pride in the work SANRAL does was always visible during his interactions with stakeholders and the public in general. SANRAL will remember him for the passion and political oversight he brought to bear. He leaves us having resolved what was a long outstanding matter for the roads agency – the issue of e-tolls. We wish him well in his new role outside government.”

Blasting scheduled at Breidbach Interchange

sizwesethu.futshaneauthor1120views0comments

TRAFFIC ADVISORY: Immediate
Blasting scheduled at Breidbach Interchange

Eastern Cape, 6 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 Monday, 13 March 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.