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TRAFFIC ADVISORY EMERGENCY REPAIRS ON THE N3 FROM ASHBURTON TO NEW ENGLAND ROAD

Pietermaritzburg, 27 June 2022 – Emergency pavement repairs on the National Route 3 (N3) between Ashburton and New England Road will result in a reduction of the number of lanes, the South African National Roads Agency SOC Limited (SANRAL) has announced.

The work to be done includes patching of the slow lane and will be undertaken over several consecutive weekends from 9 July to 19 September 2022. Each weekend closure will start at 14h00 on Saturday afternoon and run until 04h00 on Monday morning.

“The emergency pavement repairs are due to the deterioration of the road pavement under traffic loading and the delay in the commencement of the upgrade contract over this section,” said Jason Lowe, SANRAL’s Eastern Region Project Manager.

“The existing surfacing will be removed and replaced at periods when traffic flows are at their lowest in an attempt to minimise the effect on the travelling public,” said Lowe.

The closures and impact on lanes is anticipated as follows:

9 July to 19 September – N3 northbound and southbound between Ashburton and New England Road:

1. Two lane sections reduced to one lane from 14h00 on Saturday afternoons till 04h00 on Monday mornings.
2. Three lane sections reduced to two lanes from 14h00 on Saturday afternoons till 04h00 on Monday mornings.

SANRAL will keep the travelling public updated on progress and changes to the above through further media statements.

“SANRAL would like to apologise to the motoring public for any inconvenience caused during the road closure. We appeal to road users to plan their trips accordingly, especially when accessing travel hubs such as the airports. We further appeal to road users to adhere to the road signs and speed limit when approaching and travelling through the construction site,” said Lowe.

 

Media Release
Transport Minister happy with progress on N12

Pretoria, 24 June 2022: The Minister of Transport Fikile Mbalula yesterday visited the N12 national road in the North West province. His visit was to conduct an inspection on the progress made to date following the commitment made during the Presidential Imbizo held in Mafikeng recently.

The N12 transverses three towns, including Potchefstroom, Klerksdorp and Wolmaransstad, under the Dr Kenneth Kaunda District Municipality. The road referred to as ‘The treasure Route’ also connects to Gauteng, the Northern Cape and, ultimately, to Cape Town in the Western Cape. Some sections of the road which were previously under the jurisdiction of the province and various municipalities were transferred to the South African National Roads.

Agency SOC Limited (SANRAL) for repairs. Minister Mbalula started his inspection in Potchefstroom where he was welcomed by the MEC Public Works and Roads Oageng Molapisi, the mayors of the various municipalities, SANRAL board Chair Themba Mhambi, SANRAL Acting CEO Lehlohonolo Memeza, SANRAL project managers responsible for the project, and the appointed contractors on the project.

“I’m happy with what I have seen. This tells a story of what we want to achieve,” he said. The Minister also used the opportunity to announce that a campaign to fix potholes throughout the country – to be led by the SANRAL – will be launched next month. “His Excellency President Cyril Ramaphosa entrusted me with a mandate to take over the fixing of potholes throughout the country. So, by July we will be launching a national campaign to start fixing potholes,” he added.

Minister Mbalula said he is hard at work to make final inputs to submit the plan to National Treasury to use allocated budget to address the issue of potholes.

TRAFFIC ADVISORY
THE RECONSTRUCTION OF THE SLOW LANE ON NATIONAL ROUTE 3 SECTION 3 FROM SANCTUARY ROAD (km 15.2) TO LINK ROAD (km 21.2)

Pietermaritzburg, 21 June 2022 – The South African National Roads Agency Limited (SANRAL) would like to inform motorists about the relevant road closure with regards to Works on the following project: The Reconstruction of the Slow Lane on National Route 3, Section 3 from Sanctuary Road (km 15.2) to Link Road (km 21.2).

Southbound Carriageway (infill of concrete side drain).

The Contractor is scheduled to undertake works in the median drain on the southbound carriageway of the N3 at night on 28 June 2022.

The current closure in the lanes has reduced the roadway to two lanes – only the middle and fast lanes are in use.

Due to the site conditions and safety concerns, SANRAL would like to notify the public and motorists that the following closures will be required on the southbound carriageway:

• 21h30 to 22h30: All traffic will be hampered while the contractor prepares in reducing the two lanes to the single middle lane closure. The Hilton on-ramp will also be closed so no vehicle will be allowed to access Hilton Avenue.
• 22h30 to 23h30: All heavy vehicles will be stopped at the compulsory stop at the arrestor bed area. All light vehicles will be re-routed via Hilton off-ramp onto alternative route.
• 23h30 to 01h30: The heavy vehicles will be escorted in an orderly fashion down the middle lane.
• 01h30 to 02h00: Traffic to be hampered while the road is being opened to two lanes.
• 02h00 onwards: Traffic should be fully open to both light and heavy vehicles with two lanes of traffic.

The alternate route to be used by light motor vehicles only during the closure of the road is as follows:
1. Old Howick Road (R103)

• Motorists travelling from Howick towards Pietermaritzburg, can take the Cedara off-ramp, and travel on Old Howick Rd to Athlone Circle.

Heavy vehicles shall not use the alternative route due to safety concerns with the narrow width and steep gradients.
Issued

TRAFFIC ADVISORY
N3 BLOCKED IN VAN REENEN’S PASS

Pietermaritzburg, 16 June 2022 – The National Route 3 (N3) is currently blocked in both directions in Van Reenen’s Pass, the South African National Roads Agency SOC Ltd (SANRAL) has announced.

“Law enforcement authorities are on the scene and are advising road users who are travelling towards Durban in Colenso to go back. The road is also blocked from South towards Gauteng and we ask the road users to delay their trips or find alternative routes,” said Dumisani Nkabinde, SANRAL’s Eastern Regional Manager.

TRAFFIC ADVISORY
CLOSURE OF N3 FROM LYNNFIELD PARK TO ASHBURTON

Pietermaritzburg, 15 June 2022 – The South African National Roads Agency SOC Limited (SANRAL) would like to inform road users that the section of the N3 national road between Lynnfield Park and Ashburton in eThekwini, KwaZulu-Natal will be closed between 7pm today (15 June) and 5am tomorrow (16 June). Traffic will be reduced to one lane.

“The closure will be done because of milling and replacement of the road surface upgrade on this section of the road,” said Jason Lowe, SANRAL Eastern Region’s Project Manager.

“We also appeal to road users to reduce their speed to 60km/h as indicated on the construction site. We also urge motorists to plan their trips accordingly as there will be traffic delays for up to one hour,” added Lowe.

SANRAL apologises to road users for the inconvenience that this may cause.

TRAFFIC ADVISORY
Lane closure for slope stabilisation on the N2 at Groot Brak

Western Cape, 14 June 2022 – The South African National Roads Agency SOC Limited
(SANRAL) hereby informs road users of a lane closure on the N2 Section 7 at Groot Brak in
the Western Cape from Monday 20 June 2022.

The slope will be stabilised by implementing a spaced pile solution, which will require the
installation of two rows of 610mm diameter concrete rotary percussion type piles. A shallow
landslide fence system will also be installed.

To access and undertake the proposed remedial works along the cutting, the contractor
needs to close off the slow lane in the east bound direction. A temporary performance-based
vehicle restraint system will separate the work zone from the traffic lane.

The lane closure, which is approximately 700m in length, remains in place until 31 July 2023.
This is to give the contractor sufficient working space while stabilising the slope of the rock
cutting.

All traffic will be accommodated past the work zone in the east bound direction using a
single lane, with a speed limit of 60km/h. The west bound traffic lanes will not be affected.

“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 road users,” said David Le Cordeur, SANRAL Project Manager in the
Western Region.

 

MEDIA RELEASE

SANRAL explains rationale for cancellation of major Eastern Cape tenders

Eastern Cape, 14 June 2022 – The cancellation of the Mtentu Bridge and the rehabilitation of the R56 tenders in the Eastern Cape Province was necessary to ensure compliance with the South African National Roads Agency SOC Limited’s (SANRAL) procurement processes, said SANRAL Board Chairperson, Themba Mhambi.

Explaining to the district leadership of the OR Tambo District Municipality in Mthatha, Eastern Cape, Mhambi said that the SANRAL Board adopted a resolution that consultants involved in the design and development of technical specifications for projects should not be involved in the evaluation of technical submissions by bidders. The Board adopted this resolution because it deemed it to uphold and enforce proper governance in SANRAL.

“At the beginning of 2020, the SANRAL Board adopted a resolution that the consultants who are involved in the design and the development of technical specifications of tenders should not be involved in the evaluation of technical submissions by bidders. We felt that this is an appropriate control measure that is used to prevent collusion, fraud, conflict of interest, misuse of information and corruption. Previously, design consultants were part of the Technical Evaluation Panel that made a recommendation on the technical part of the tender to the Bid Evaluation Committee,” said Mhambi.

“With regard to the Mtentu Bridge project on the N2 Wild Coast Road Project, we became aware that the same design consultants were involved in the design and the development of technical specifications as well as in the evaluation of technical submissions of the bidders.  No prior approval had been sought from the Board to deviate from the resolution.”

“A bid that should have been considered as non-responsive because it was not submitted in the prescribed and required format in terms of the specifications was accepted. The specifications included an increase in the scope of works by virtue of additional roads that were originally planned for community development projects in order to accommodate the 30% sub-contracting requirement.

“This resulted in a deviation from the 30% subcontracting and there was no 30% subcontracting on the actual project. The deviation was done without the requisite Board approval, and we found this to be irregular,” said Mhambi.

The same irregularities were discovered in the rehabilitation of the R56 Matatiele project.

Mhambi also dispelled the confusion and misinformation that SANRAL has cancelled projects in the Eastern Cape Province. “We want to stress from the outset that SANRAL has not cancelled projects in the Eastern Cape. The two tenders that I have just mentioned have been cancelled, but not current projects in the province.”

“As an organisation we recognise the important relationship that we have with the province in unlocking and unleashing major developments to local communities, particularly on towns that straddle the major N2 Wild Coast Road project,” added Mhambi.

From 2009 to date, SANRAL has invested over R14 billion on infrastructure development projects in the OR Tambo District Municipality, spanning across the local municipalities of Ingquza Hill, King Sabata Dalindyebo, Mhlontlo, Nyandeni Local and Port St Johns, explains SANRAL’s Manager for the Southern Region, Mbulelo Peterson.

This investment has been welcomed by the district. “These massive investments into the district not only translate into infrastructure development in the region, but it also means that more job opportunities have been available for local community members. As a district, we also continue to work together with SANRAL and our local municipalities to coordinate efforts to assist local SMMEs in benefiting from SANRAL projects.”

“We continue to value the partnership that we have with SANRAL, particularly in light of the recent provincial roads within OR Tambo District that will be gazetted by Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula. The managing and maintenance of these roads will now be taken over by SANRAL,” said OR Tambo District Deputy Executive Mayor, Thokozile Sokhanyile.

MEDIA RELEASE

SANRAL’s Smart Mobility Strategy Fosters Change on Country’s National Roads

Pretoria, 10 June 2022 – The South African National Roads Agency SOC Limited’s (SANRAL) Smart Mobility strategy has made great strides in fostering change and finding innovative solutions to the country’s national road network.

Speaking at the African Smart Cities Summit held at Gallagher Estate in Midrand, Johannesburg, on Wednesday (today), Siveshni Pillay, SANRAL Northern Region’s Project Manager, said the mobility strategy continues to assist in shifting towards managing and operating the national road network from the traditional maintenance and upgrade mandate.

“Developing and documenting our Smart Mobility Strategy talks to a new mind shift that incorporates existing implemented smart solutions and new solutions into a strategic document with clear key deliverables and targets. There’s a growing trend towards using technology to optimise infrastructure and innovation on national roads. Implementing and enhancing these smart solutions is critical to ensure that we continue to deliver on an effective, reliable and impactful national road network for road users,” she said.

One of the key innovative solutions that SANRAL introduced was the Freeway Management System (FMS), which essentially monitors the country’s national freeways 24/7 for 365 days a year.

“Through FMS, we have been able to manage congestion on our freeways by using various intelligent tools. We are also able to respond speedily when there is an accident scene on our freeways in Gauteng with dedicated On Road Services provided to road users free of charge. FMS plays an important role in reducing delays on accident scenes on the freeways. By reducing travel delays, FMS also plays an important role in saving time travelling on the national road network.

The pilot project on this initiative started in October 2006 and it has been deployed in three cities: Johannesburg, Durban and Cape Town,” said Pillay.

Closely linked to FMS, another smart mobility solution that SANRAL introduced back in 2000 is Electronic Toll Collection (ETC). This innovation helps road users to minimise movement delays and payments at toll plazas through a one tag, one account, central clearing system. This means that road users with tag in their vehicles can use this system at all existing toll plazas that are managed by SANRAL its concessionaires where e-tag readers are installed.

The SANRAL Mobile App, which road users can download on their mobile smart phones and tablets, also allows for users to have an easily accessible means of managing their Mobility Account, which is envisaged to integrate into any travel-related infrastructure.

Through the App, road users can also manage their user profiles, their vehicle data, travel information and other information such as parking at shopping centres and malls countrywide. All this information is uploaded in real time.

“Another key innovative solution that we have come up with at SANRAL is Account Based Ticketing (ABT) for users of public transport. ABT is a ticketless way for public transport commuters to travel by tapping or scanning a secure token which is linked to one’s account in the back office. Any value or information on the account is stored in the back office only. The fare is charged to the commuter post the journey.

“The traditional transport travel card does not have any value stored on the card chip but acts as identification of the traveller only. We work on the premise that mobility on our public transport is integrated and stems from one system,” added Pillay.

SANRAL has already also undertaken numerous research projects that are currently underway on its mobility innovation programme with universities and industry experts.

“Futuristic solutions include autonomous vehicle test sections across the country, electrical vehicle charging facilities as well as battery exchange facilities, smart roads which will entail in-road wireless charging, and truck platooning, to mention a few,” said Pillay.