Blog

TRAFFIC ADVISORY

 Massive traffic backup near Carousel Toll Plaza

Pretoria, 14 April 2022 – The South African National Roads Agency SOC Limited (SANRAL) wishes to inform motorists travelling in the direction of the Carousel Toll Plaza on the N1 North of a massive traffic back up in the vicinity of the Toll Plaza.

“The traffic back up is caused by law enforcement activities near the Carousel Toll Plaza, ahead of the Easter Weekend, and not caused by Plaza’s operations. The backup is approximately six kilometres and law enforcement officials have now opened up two lanes on the N1 North to allow for increased vehicle flows,” said Louw Kannemeyer, SANRAL’s Engineering Executive.

“As we are travel towards the Easter long weekend, we urge all road users to be cautious and patient on the roads,” said Kannemeyer.

MEDIA RELEASE
A change in attitude can save lives this Easter, says SANRAL

Pretoria, 14 April 2022 – As the Easter long weekend kicks off, the South African National Roads Agency SOC Limited (SANRAL) wishes to encourage road users to be cautious on the roads to save lives.

SANRAL General Manager of Communications, Vusi Mona, said the Easter period is an important time as many people look forward to travelling far and wide to spend time with family or simply go on vacation, which often poses a challenge with regards to road safety.

“As we are heading towards the Easter long weekend for the much-needed break, we urge all road users to be cautious on the roads,” said Mona. Mona said the roads agency will embark on a national drive to promote road safety over the
weekend and beyond through initiatives such as the ‘WHOA!’ campaign, which encourages road users to ‘stop and reconsider their actions before using the road.

“Our road safety team will be dispatched to various rest spots along the road network across the country such as the Grasmere Petrol Station on N1 North in Gauteng and the Sasol garage in Abbotsford, East London, where they will provide travellers some entertainment and valuable tips to make the journey safer and fun,” he said.

Unsafe driving behaviours such as speeding, reckless driving, drinking and driving, driving while operating mobile phones and fatigue are known to be the leading causes of road incidents. Mona believes that a change in road-user behaviour can play a huge role in saving lives on the roads.

“As a roads authority, we have a huge responsibility to take the lead in influencing the attitudes and behaviour of road users, thus creating a convenient and safe road environment that caters for the needs of all road users,” said Mona.

TRAFFIC ADVISORY
NO ACCESS TO THE DURBAN PORT

Pietermaritzburg, 12 April 2022 – Torrential rains in KwaZulu-Natal have resulted in the closure of access to the Durban Port via road, the South African National Roads Agency SOC Limited (SANRAL) has announced.
“Bayhead Road which provides access to the port is completely closed due to heavy rains and flooding. Engineers are on the ground assessing the situation and providing guidance on mobility around the network,” said Ravi Ronny, SANRAL’s Eastern Region Design and Construction Manager.

Some sections of the N3 are partially closed due to the upgrades and the floods have exacerbated the situation on the network.
“We appeal to all motorists and especially freight transport not to leave their destinations to try and come to Durban Port. There is no access to the port. We are working with emergency services to get the road network reopened,” said Ronny.

MEDIA RELEASE
Increased traffic volumes will be accommodated on Sir Lowry’s Pass over Easter

Western Cape, 12 April 2022 – While the R31 million slope stabilisation project on the N2 Sir Lowry’s Pass is well underway, the road will not be fully open to traffic between the hairpin bend and the lookout point at the top of the pass during the Easter weekend. Traffic accommodation will however be adapted to respond to the increased volume.

“This section of road has been operating as a two-lane, two-way roadway since slope stabilisation work commenced earlier this year, but capacity will be adapted to a three-lane facility over the Easter period to accommodate increased holiday traffic,” said Senzo Ngobese, SANRAL Project Manager.

On Thursday, Friday and Saturday there will be two lanes open for traffic leaving Cape Town and one lane will be used for traffic approaching Cape Town. This configuration will be reversed on Easter Sunday, with two lanes available for inbound traffic and only one lane operating for outbound traffic.

Road users are reminded of the alternative route around Clarence Drive, past Hangklip and Betty’s Bay, for accessing Bot River and beyond.

“We appeal to motorists for patience, vigilance and courtesy on the road during this coming long weekend. Let us take collective responsibility for our safety, and that of road construction workers and pedestrians,” said Ngobese.

MEDIA RELEASE
Opportunities for meaningful SMME participation on N7 upgrade

Western Cape, 7 April 2022 – With construction on the upgrade of the N7 between Rooidraai and Moorreesburg now well underway, there are significant project participation opportunities for SMMEs in the Swartland Local Municipality. However, the slow response to subcontracting tenders that have already been advertised, has warranted expanding the net of economic inclusion to SMMEs in the broader West Coast District Municipality.

To this end, the South African National Roads Agency SOC Limited (SANRAL) will host information sessions with SMMEs in Clanwilliam, Piketberg and Malmesbury to share information, provide clarity and ensure they have all the necessary tools to tender for subcontracting opportunities.

The following information sessions will be held:

• Wednesday, 13 April 2022, at 09h00, Cathy Johnson Centre, Bloekom Avenue, Clanwilliam
• Wednesday, 13 April 2022, at 14h00, Piketberg Library Hall, Kerk Street, Piketberg
• Tuesday, 19 April 2022, at 09h00, Wesbank Community Hall, Malmesbury

The following packages are still to be subcontracted:

• Clearing and shaping existing open drains
• Subsoil structures
• Stormwater structures
• Kerbing and chutes
• Inlet and outlet structure
• Trimming of concrete-line open drains
• Concrete-line open drains
• Stone pitching
• Concrete block paving

“Apart from ensuring that we reach more SMMEs with information about the subcontracting opportunities on the remaining packages on this project, we also want to use the information sessions to share information about SANRAL’s upcoming projects on the N7, beyond Moorreesburg. We appeal to SMMEs to attend these sessions to ensure they are able to tender profitably and competitively,” said Petronella Theron, SANRAL Project Manager.

SANRAL remains committed to its transformation objectives that are particularly aligned to facilitate the participation of persons with disabilities, and women- and youth-owned businesses.

MEDIA RELEASE
SANRAL introduces R63 national road project to Amahlathi local SMMEs

Eastern Cape, 7 April 2022 – Small, medium, and micro enterprises (SMMEs) have welcomed the announcement by the South African National Roads Agency SOC Limited (SANRAL) of a road improvement project planned for the R63 national road from Bhisho to the N6 national road bridge intersection.

SANRAL hosted an information session in Stutterheim in the Eastern Cape today (Thursday) to introduce the details of the upcoming projects to stakeholders. The session was a follow up to the one that SANRAL hosted for the Buffalo City based SMMEs in Bhisho last month. The R63 national road project spans across the two municipalities of Buffalo City and
Amahlathi.

Currently in the design phase, the R750 million project is anticipated to create 200 job opportunities for the local community over 36 months. About 60 local SMMEs are also expected to benefit from the project.

Councillor Xola Tokwe, who is also the head of road and infrastructure at Amahlathi Local Municipality, commended SANRAL for the developmental role it plays in the local community. “On behalf of the municipality, we are very pleased with what SANRAL is doing and bringing to the Amahlathi community. This project will benefit our local community; it will
enable them to make a living, improve their lives and give them the relevant skills necessary to work in the built and construction sector,” he said.

Ronald Kasipo, a senior technician on the project, said: “The scope of works that will be done on the project will include the dualling of sections of the R63, improvement of the existing road alignment, improvement of the existing pavement structure, construction of new hydraulic structures, construction of community access roads, pedestrian walkways,
and streetlights.“It is also important to emphasise that much of the focus on this project is to benefit local SMMEs. Up to 30% of the contract will be given to targeted enterprises or subcontractors. Packages for the targeted enterprises will include fencing, minor contract works, gabions, guard rails and site security, among others.”

Welekazi Ndika, SANRAL Southern Region’s Stakeholder Coordinator, said SANRAL’s 14 Point Plan will assist greatly in ensuring better communication and understanding between stakeholders that are affected by the project.

The 14 Point Plan is SANRAL’s guide to facilitate better project-level liaison with local communities and structures that are affected by its projects. It strives to ensure transparency and inclusivity among those who work on its projects.

“It is also our wish that when this project starts, we will already have established a project liaison committee (PLC) on this project. 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, to mention a few, must be represented in the PLC,” said Ndika.

SANRAL continuously strives to strengthen its relationship with stakeholders who are affected by its projects through these information sessions. The sessions are not only a platform for the roads agency to share information about job opportunities on its projects, but also about its transformation policy and Horizon 2030 Strategy.

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

MEDIA RELEASE
SANRAL to host information sessions on subcontracting on Thembalethu Bridge

Western Cape, 4 April 2022 – With construction on the upgrade of the Thembalethu Bridge in George set to start next month, the South African National Roads Agency SOC Limited (SANRAL) is hosting information sessions with SMMEs to ensure they have all the necessary tools to tender for subcontracting opportunities.

The two information sessions will be held on Tuesday 12 April 2022:

• 09h00 at the Thembalethu Community Hall
• 14h00 at the Conville Community Hall

The scope of works involves the widening of the Thembalethu Bridge across the N2 from a single carriageway to accommodate two lanes in each direction, with additional turning lanes as well as extra space for pedestrians and cyclists. A new bridge will be constructed on the western side. Once completed, the existing bridge will be raised and stitched to the new bridge, to ensure that the upgraded structure complies with the minimum bridge clearance of 5.2 metres,” explained Petronella Theron, SANRAL Project Manager. The Project Liaison Committee (PLC) has called for current and prospective suppliers and subcontractors to apply to be registered on the subcontractor and supplier database. This database is intended to ensure that the companies registered will receive communication about tender notices and will further assist to give the main contractor an indication of the available expertise in the local community.

Subcontracting opportunities for construction include:

• Traffic accommodation
• Clearing
• Excavation of open drains
• Culvert structures
• Concrete kerbing and channelling
• Segmented block paving
• Stone pitching
• Road restraint systems
• Fencing
• Road signs
• Road marking and road studs
• Landscaping and planting plants
• Formwork
• Steel fixing
• Electrical

Supplier contracts are available for:

• Fuel
• Concrete
• Steel Reinforcement
• Plant Hire
• Site security
• Training service providers

“These information-sharing and training sessions are of cardinal importance to ensure we broaden the scope of economic opportunities to businesses in the surrounding communities. Our transformation objectives are particularly aligned to facilitate the participation of persons with disabilities, and women-owned and youth-owned businesses. We want to appeal to SMMEs to attend these sessions to ensure they are able to tender profitably and competitively,” explained Theron.

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