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Lane closure on the N7 Piekenierskloof Cutting, for slope stabilisation

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TRAFFIC ADVISORY
Lane closure on the N7 Piekenierskloof Cutting, for slope stabilisation

Western Cape, 1 April 2022 – The South African National Roads Agency SOC Limited (SANRAL) hereby informs road users of a lane closure on the N7 Section 7 at the Piekenierskloof Cutting in the Western Cape.

SANRAL is currently executing a slope stabilisation project on the rock cutting, that involves removing loose boulders, anchoring other boulders onto the rock face, drilling of drainage holes and shotcrete of selected areas in the rock face.

The lane closure, which is approximately 1km in length, will come into effect on Monday 4 April and will remain in place until 31 May 2022. This is to give the contractor sufficient working space while stabilising the slope of the rock cutting. Two-way traffic be maintained throughout the construction period.

The traffic towards Piketberg will be diverted onto the passing lane on the left-hand side of the road. The traffic towards Citrusdal will be diverted on the normal lane towards Piketberg, and the normal lane towards Citrusdal will be closed off. Directional signage is in place to warn road users of the diversion, as well as delineators dividing the two-way traffic.

“We appeal to road users to be vigilant, patient and compliant with speed restrictions in the construction area. This is a short-term inconvenience, that will ultimately ensure the long-term safety of

SANRAL INTENSIFIES INVESTMENTS ON N2 WILD COAST ROAD PROJECT

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MEDIA RELEASE

SANRAL INTENSIFIES INVESTMENTS ON N2 WILD COAST ROAD PROJECT

Eastern Cape, 1 April 2022 – The South African National Roads Agency SOC Limited (SANRAL) will invest over R76 million in seven new contracts to benefit local communities that live around the N2 Wild Coast Road Project in the Eastern Cape Province.

Updating local stakeholders on progress undertaken on the project – which included officials from municipalities, traditional leadership, business associations, SMMEs and community members – Craig McLachlan, SANRAL’s Project Manager on the N2 Wild Coast Road Project, said a total amount of R278m has been paid to over 100 local SMMEs including 28 suppliers, 52 service providers and 27 sub-contractors, that are currently undertaking work on the Msikaba Bridge project alone.

“In addition, R45.9m has so far been paid on wages to over 300 skilled and unskilled labour drawn from the surrounding local communities, as well as the surrounding local municipalities of Port St Johns, Ingquza Hill and Winnie Madikizela Mandela,” he said.

He was addressing small, medium and micro enterprises (SMMEs) of Port St Johns Local Municipality, Winnie Madikizela Mandela Local Municipality and Ingquza Hill Local Municipality at an Information Session held in Lusikisiki yesterday.

The Msikaba Bridge project is expected to be completed in May 2024 and targeted goals on employing youth has already been exceeded while the remaining labour targets are also on track to be met or exceeded.

“We are proud to say that we have already exceeded one of our targets on the Msikaba bridge project. The targeted labour for youth is 30% of the total projected wage bill and we have already met having achieved 102.6% of this target.  So far, we have also achieved 45.4% of the target for women employment,” said McLachlan.

Seven sub-contracting tenders that will be awarded shortly include a bush clearing project in the east and west of Mzimvubu River, repairs to the R61 between Ndwalane and Ntafufu road, repairs to the main roads through Lusikisiki, repairs to the R61 between Lusikisiki and Zalu road, repairs to the R61 between Bukazi and Flagstaff, as well as the repairs to the Flagstaff town bypass and road to Holy Cross. A total of R76m will be invested on these projects.

An additional four first tier tenders have also already been advertised by SANRAL in the region and are currently in adjudication. These include the rehabilitation of the Ingquza Hill Memorial Road, upgrading of roads in Ntlavukazi Village, upgrading of the DR8004 road from the R61 national road to Bambisana Hospital Road, as well as the design of the upgrading of the road from Bizana to Mbongweni Village. These four tenders are planned to be awarded by September 2022.

SANRAL has also completed five community development projects in the region.  “We always ensure that our community development projects leave our communities with a rich legacy of road safety improvements, as well as economic opportunities that will benefit local communities from their inception,” added McLachlan.

New community development projects that are in design phase are an access road leading to the Goso Forest Clinic, access road and pedestrian facilities in Mbotyi and the Ntafufu Service Road. These projects are also planned to be put out to tender by September 2022.

Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula has also agreed to a request from Eastern Cape Province Premier Oscar Mabuyane for some of the province’s roads to be transferred to SANRAL. These roads include the R61 from Tombo outside of Port St John’s to Mzamba at the Umtamvuna River, the DR0838 road from the R61 to Cala, the DR08012 road from Maluti to Qachas Nek at the Lesotho border, the DR08031 and DR18031 roads from Viedgesville to Coffee Bay, as well as the MR00710 road from the R61 to the R56 (Satan’s Nek).

For these roads to be transferred to SANRAL, there are processes that first need to be followed for them to be gazetted. SANRAL will also survey and proclaim these new roads as well as prepare, advertise, and award tenders for maintenance contractors to take over responsibility.

The tender for the anticipated Mtentu Bridge project is currently awaiting announcement by the SANRAL Board.

Nwabisa Gxumisa, SANRAL’s Wild Coast District Manager appealed to stakeholders to continue to work with SANRAL to contribute towards projects that SANRAL has invested in the community. “Principally, what is important is that the local communities benefit from our projects. The success of these projects is not only SANRAL’s endeavour but a collective one together with our stakeholders. We will continue to work with the various key stakeholders our road projects traverse,” she said.

Temporary closure of the R396 between Maclear and Emabeleni township near Tsolo

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TRAFFIC ADVISORY: Immediate

 Temporary closure of the R396 between Maclear and Emabeleni township near Tsolo

Eastern Cape, 31 March 2022: The South African National Roads Agency SOC Ltd (SANRAL) wishes to notify motorists that the R396 between Maclear and Emabeleni township is temporarily closed due to road works.

There is a delay on the project, due to heavy rains, and the anticipated completion date is mid-April.

“We request motorists to plan their trips accordingly, consider alternative routes and apply caution when making use of the roads,” said Mbulelo Peterson, SANRAL’s Southern Region Manager.

  • Motorists travelling from Kokstad on the N2 to Maclear must proceed to Mthatha and turn right onto the R61, then turn right onto the R412 to Ugie and then to Maclear via the R56.
  • Motorists travelling from Elliot on the R56 to Mthatha must proceed to Ugie and turn right onto the R412 and then turn left to Mthatha via the R61.
  • Motorists travelling from Mthatha to Maclear must turn west onto the R61 and go to Ugie via the R412.
  • The R396 road from Tsolo to Maclear is only suitable for light vehicles. Heavy vehicles must use the N2 or the R61 to Maclear via the R412.

SANRAL apologises for any inconvenience caused.

Major boost for road infrastructure development

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Image: Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana

Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana allocated R812 billion to public infrastructure investment over the next three years, which he described as “the backbone of a thriving economy”. Minister Godogwana made the allocation the during his maiden Budget Speech on 23 February.

SANRAL will receive an additional R9.9 billion for maintaining the non-toll road network. The Budget Review also showed that spending on road infrastructure was expected to grow from R50.4 billion in 2021/22 to R72.7 billion in 2024/25, at an average annual growth rate of 13%.

The medium-term allocation to SANRAL will help to maintain more than 22,000km of roads countrywide, while provinces plan to reseal 11,217km of roads through the Provincial Roads Maintenance Grant.

Infrastructure projects get top priority

In his State of the Nation Address on 10 February 2022, President Cyril Ramaphosa said: “Through innovative funding and improved technical capabilities, we have prioritised infrastructure projects to support economic growth and better livelihoods, especially in energy, roads and water management.”

This message continued to be carried throughout the State of the Province addresses.

Image: R72 Port Alfred to Fish River

Eastern Cape Premier Oscar Mabuyane described the roads infrastructure as “the wheels of the economy”, that also plays the important role of connecting people to social services and economic centres.

He reported on how the province partnered with SANRAL with 8 major road infrastructure projects worth R3.1 billion which have been completed.

These are the R72 Port Alfred to Fish River, R72 Bhirha River to Openshaw, N2 Makanda to Fish River (Phase 2), N2 Tetyana to Sithebe Komkhulu, R67 Whittlesea to Black Kei River, R61 Majola Tea to Tombo, R61 Libode to Mngazi Mouth, and R75 Jansenville to R63 Intersection to Somerset East.

“Your government is currently implementing 18 other major road infrastructure projects worth R7 billion in our province. These roads include the N2 Msikaba Bridge in OR Tambo District, N2 Nqadu to Mbokotwana and Dan’s Lodge to Tsolo junction in OR Tambo District, R63 Fort Beaufort to Alice in Amathole District, N2 Green River (Bulembu) to Buffalo River (eQonce), Black Kei River to Komani in Chris Hani District, R58 Lady Grey to Barkley East in Joe Gqabi District, R61 Baziya to Mthatha Airport in the OR Tambo District, and N2 Breidbach & Belstone Interchange in the Buffalo City Metro,” he said.

“Small towns like Middelburg, Steynsburg, Molteno, Dordrecht, Indwe and Nqanqarhu (Maclear) are benefitting from rehabilitation works on the R56.

“Over R1.5 billion has been invested in the rehabilitation of this route. Despite the negative effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, over 4,500 job opportunities have been created. Of these, 2,020 benefitted youth and 1,076 women.

“A total of R228 million was spent on wages and salaries. Work packages worth more than R5.5 billion were allocated to 696 black-owned contractors, with R120 million spent on those within CIDB Grades 1–4.”

He added that while the R1.6 billion Mtentu Bridge project in Mbizana was delayed after contractors left the site, SANRAL’s announcement of a new contractor for this project is imminent.

Image: Msikaba Bridge

“In the construction of the Msikaba Bridge that is currently under way in OR Tambo District, 522 local people are employed on site, all coming from the four surrounding administrative areas of Lambasi, Mgezwa, Nkunzimbini and Njombela on the South and KwaThahle and Khanyayo on the North.”

North West Premier Kaobitsa Bushy Maape reported that Public Works and Roads will receive R1.3bn in 2022/23 for road infrastructure. Recent heavy rains aggravated the poor conditions of provincial and rural roads, and 20 projects are to be implemented across the four districts, which includes upgrading  from  gravel  to  surface  standard  of  the  road  from Gamokgatla to Uitkyk, upgrading from gravel to surface standard (tar) of the road from Modimong to Taung, special maintenance of the road in Wolmaranstad, special maintenance of a section of the road between Danville and Dada Motors through Mahikeng, and rehabilitation of the road from Delareyville to Schweizer-Reneke.

Gauteng Premier David Makhura stated that infrastructure investment has been a key catalyst for the growth of the economy and improvement in the quality of living and global competitiveness of Gauteng.

“In last SOPA we committed to construct and rehabilitate 18 arterial roads to integrate and improve the movement of goods and services. Work has been done not just in terms of rehabilitation but also the reconstruction of road networks.”

The Premier highlighted the following road infrastructure and network projects which have been completed and/or rehabilitated to date: rehabilitation of P158 (N14) from Brakfontein to Diepsloot completed; Snake Road (R23) – road rehabilitation completed; P122/1 (M57) north of Olifantsfontein, old Pretoria/Kempton Park – road rehabilitation completed; Evaton and Sebokeng Road infrastructure upgrade completed; and R114 road rehabilitation project in Muldersdrift completed.

KwaZulu-Natal Premier Sihle Zikalala said that the province continues to pursue infrastructure-led development, with transport infrastructure as a catalyst for economic growth, job creation and development.

“We are pleased to confirm that the upgrade of the national network by SANRAL is on track. The route from Cato Ridge to Dardanelles, estimated at R1.6 billion is under construction. It has a job creation target of 1,450.”

He said the route from Dardanelles to Lynnfied Park at a contract value of R15 billion is estimated to create 1,400 jobs. “Other work packages are continuing as planned, including the upgrade of the EB Cloete interchange and the KwaMashu interchange.

“An integrated road, rail, maritime and pipeline transportation system is key to driving the economic and social development of the province. Easing road congestion is a priority – working with Transnet will increase moving of cargo from road to rail.”

Limpopo Premier Chupu Mathabatha said that quality road infrastructure is an important enabler for growth and development, and that building new roads and maintaining the existing road infrastructure were a priority.

Image: R573 Moloto Road

Mpumalanga Premier Refilwe Mtsweni-Tsipane stated how the province has benefitted from the upgrading of the Moloto Road (R573) by SANRAL. This is a major route linking the north-western part of Mpumalanga to the province of Gauteng and north eastern Mpumalanga to Limpopo. It has the potential to unlock and enhance agriculture and tourism in the region, including mining linkages between Mpumalanga, Limpopo, Maputo Port in Mozambique and Richards Bay Port in KwaZulu-Natal.

“SANRAL, our national road agency will invest R9 billion on road infrastructure in the province. These projects will include the upgrading of the N2 between Ermelo in Mpumalanga and KwaZulu-Natal as well as the R40 between Hazyview and Bushbuckridge. Both these projects will create employment opportunities and will benefit enterprises owned by young people, women and people with disabilities.”

Western Cape Premier Alan Winde reported that a new Department of Infrastructure would be created in the province, through the merger of the Human Settlements Department and specific components of the Transport and Public Works Department.

“This Infrastructure Department will be tasked with leading the change, working together with local governments in the Western Cape, the National Government as well as the private sector to ensure that we collectively complete quality, catalytic infrastructure projects that will help create jobs in an inclusive way”, he said.

He said that since 2019 the province has invested R6 billion on road infrastructure, with half being spent on maintaining the existing network, and the other half on new construction.

“We intend to continue with this investment over the next financial year by launching three new road upgrade projects. This is in addition to 91 road projects currently in progress in various phases, worth approximately R3 billion.”

Black-owned SMMEs to the fore in SANRAL projects

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SANRAL’s road construction and maintenance projects not only benefit road users – they also improve lives and livelihoods among local communities and help transform the construction and engineering sectors in South Africa.

In line with SANRAL’s Horizon 2030 strategy, the agency is committed to ensuring that its projects contribute to economic development through job creation. By continuously expanding community development projects in towns and villages adjacent to the road network, SANRAL is also playing an important role in addressing the challenges of poverty and inequality.

The agency’s Transformation Policy has clear targets for the participation of contractors, professionals and suppliers from historically disadvantaged groups. It requires contractors wishing to secure SANRAL tenders to be at least 51% black-owned.

SANRAL continues to drive its transformation agenda for local SMMEs and community members that live alongside its national roads. Local SMMEs are entitled to a minimum of 30% of subcontracting value on open tender, in line with the legal requirements of the country.

SANRAL is laying the foundation for a more diverse and inclusive road transport industry, working to ensure that small emerging businesses, especially those owned by black entrepreneurs, women and youth, become active participants in the construction, engineering and related sectors.

 

Just one example is SANRAL’s investment of R15 billion in the N2 Wild Coast Road. On this project R4 billion is earmarked for SMMEs, and it is foreseen that 8,000 direct full-time jobs will be created with a wage bill of R750 million, as well as 21,300 and 28,100 indirect jobs.

SANRAL’s aim is to ensure that members of previously marginalised sectors of our economy play a meaningful role and succeed in a construction industry that has largely been non-transformative.

In 2020/2021, SANRAL provided work opportunities for 1,265 SMMEs on road

construction, rehabilitation and maintenance projects.

Black-owned SMMEs accounted for 85.9% of contracts awarded and 48% of the value of

work performed.

Total amount earned: R1,568,526,911

 

DID YOU KNOW?

 Through its Transformation Policy SANRAL:

  • Uses its procurement to contribute to transform the construction industry.
  • Maximises the participation of black contractors, consultants, suppliers, and designated groups in all SANRAL projects.
  • Breaks down monopolies in the supply chains of critical materials, equipment, and systems.
  • Creates structured arrangements for the direct benefit of local communities.
  • Provides development support to black business via structured development programmes.
  • Awarded 164 contracts, to the cumulative value of R17.933 billion to entities that are 51% or more black-owned in the 2020/2021 financial year.

SANRAL invests more than R1.2 billion in Matatiele roads

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Thandile Makwabe, SANRAL Southern Region’s Transformation Officer

The Eastern Cape town of Matatiele is set to benefit from road construction and maintenance projects worth more than R1.2 billion. According to SANRAL’s Southern Region’s Regional Manager, Mbulelo Peterson, these road infrastructure development initiatives will drive economic prosperity in the area.

SANRAL hosted three ‘Taking SANRAL to the People’ information sessions with the municipal leadership, local SMMEs and the transport sector to discuss SANRAL’s road infrastructure projects in the municipality, as well as the road agency’s transformation agenda.

“All these opportunities are open to local stakeholders. We call on SMMEs to start preparing themselves, so that they are able to benefit from economic opportunities availed to them during the implementation phase,” Peterson said.

One of the projects is rehabilitation of National Route R56, section 8, from Matatiele (km 130.15) to the KwaZulu-Natal boundary (km 168.71). This will include refurbishment of the Mzimvubu River Bridge, demolishing and reconstruction of Matatiele Bridge 3 and Edendale Farm Stream Bridge, and construction of new cattle underpasses, and pedestrian sidewalks in Matatiele and Cedarville.

The routine road maintenance of National Route R56 section 7 (km 25.713) to section 8 (km 168.71) and National Route R396 section 6 (km 0 to km 39.31) has an estimated project budget of R65 million. The project traverses Elundini and Matatiele Local Municipalities within Joe Gqabi and Alfred Nzo District Municipalities.

“Our local SMMEs and residents must benefit from the upcoming projects. As local government we welcome that. We desire that the lives of our people change for the better, with immediate effect,” said Councillor Sonwabile Mngenela, newly elected Mayor of Matatiele Local Municipality.

Thandile Makwabe, SANRAL Southern Region’s Transformation Officer, shared information about SANRAL’s Transformation Policy and Horizon 2030 Strategy.

Through the Horizon 2030 Strategy, SANRAL has empowered local communities and SMMEs with information, providing them with opportunities and enabling them to partner with more established construction companies on its projects.

Progress on the N2 Wild Coast Road

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The N2 Wild Coast Road (N2WCR) project is strategically positioned on the N2 connecting four provinces – Western Cape, Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal and Mpumalanga – while connecting the cities and towns of Cape Town, George, Knysna, Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth), East London, Mthatha, Durban and Ermelo.

Once the project is completed, the route will be approximately 69km and 85km shorter than the current N2 and R61 routes respectively. Its shorter route and flatter alignment mean it will make travel between 1½ and 3 hours faster for light and heavy freight vehicles respectively.

This will significantly reduce vehicle carbon emissions and result in a time-cost saving to motorists and freight operators of approximately R1.5 billion per annum.

As at February 2022, more than 53% of the Msikaba mega bridge project was complete. This project has created work for 372 skilled persons, of whom 190 are locals, as well as 137 unskilled local labourers.

The R1.65 billion cable-stay Msikaba Bridge is expected to be completed by the middle of 2024. It will span 580m and be 195m high. Steady progress is being made, with 67% of the Southern bridge structure complete and 61% of work on the Northern bridge structure complete.

Once the pylons and anchor blocks are complete, work will begin on the 580m long bridge deck. The deck is built out across the gorge from either side in steel and reinforced concrete segments. Each segment is supported by two massive steel cables tied back to the anchor blocks via the top of the pylons.

The mass earthworks for the approach roadworks for the South and North sites are 56% complete. These approach roads cross four streams, requiring three major culverts: one small bridge with tributaries 1 and 2 is 100% complete, while tributary 3 (the 32m span small bridge) is 50% complete and tributary 4 is 91% complete.

At the end of February the re-tender for the other mega bridge on the N2WCR – the Mtentu Bridge – was in adjudication. It is envisaged that work will recommence soon.

 

SANRAL to invest R90m in Xhariep District Municipality

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SANRAL will invest more than R90 million on a road infrastructure project in the Mohokare and Kopanong local municipalities of Xhariep District Municipality in the Free State.

Addressing the local business community of Trompsburg, SANRAL Eastern Region’s transformation officer James Takalo said this investment – which will include the upgrading of existing unsurfaced roads to surfaced roads from Springfontein to Trompsburg – will provide much-needed job opportunities for local communities.

“The project is divided into two packages. Package One, which is valued at R45,011,527, starts at section 13 from Springfontein South to section 14 Springfontein North, while Package Two, which is valued at R45,100,000, will begin at section 14 from Springfontein North to Trompsburg.

Each package has a community development budget of R3 million that will go towards projects to be identified by the community.

“The Contract Participation Goal (CPG) plan has been acknowledged by the project liaison committee (PLC) members and work is ready to start. We are excited at the economic prospects that this will bring, particularly as the road construction industry begins to recover from the onslaught of COVID-19,” said Takalo.

Working together with local community structures in municipalities, PLCs are established to ensure better communication and transparency on SANRAL projects. “They also ensure that work on projects is done seamlessly,” said SANRAL Eastern Region’s stakeholder coordinator, Monageng Mokgojwa.

“Our aim is to ensure that the previously marginalised sectors of our economy – including women, young people, people with disabilities and black contractors – play a meaningful role and succeed in the construction industry.”

R152 million R81 project completed

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Construction of the R81 from Munnik to Ga-Sekgopo is now complete. This R152 million project appointed up to 20 SMMEs and employed 164 community members. Of the targeted labour,
R7.5 million was spent on youth workers and R6.3 million on women workers. Of the targeted enterprises, R20.6 million was spent on women-owned enterprises. The road will facilitate mobility and safe movement of goods and services from Polokwane to Giyani in Limpopo, improving safety for both vehicles and pedestrians in Ga-Sekgopo village.

Popular N6 between Rouxville and Smithfield gets an upgrade

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The N6 provides a vital cog in the transportation of goods and services between Lesotho and Coega. This popular route, particularly between Smithfield and Rouxville, previously posed significant road safety challenges. The upgrade included widening and partial vertical realignment of the existing road, with fewer blind rises and a longer field of vision for motorists. The road is also being widened to 12.4 metres, with a generous shoulder on each side. SANRAL prioritised pedestrian safety by reducing the speed limit, building sidewalks on both sides, creating safe crossing points and installing streetlights.