Residents of Groblersdal in Mpumalanga will finally have some peace, following months of frustration as a section of the N11, between Middelburg and Loskop Dam, was rehabilitated. Construction on section 10 started in February 2015.

The SANRAL-led project is expected to be completed in August, at an investment of R4.4m. There have been no delays on the project and we are moving according to schedule.

SANRAL Project Manager Riaan Oerlemans said that about 90 blasts had been conducted successfully.

Thirty-six were for subsoil – found below the top soil, it consists of sand, clay, gravel and rock, depending on the location.

The project has employed more than 165 locals and a total of 22 subcontractors were used in the project as part of SANRAL’s community development initiative.

This road is an important link to Loskop Dam Nature Reserve, which is a major attraction in the region, which is home to more than 70 species of wildlife – including buffalo, leopard and white rhino.

Communities surrounding the Matoks intersection on the N1 North in Limpopo can now enjoy accessible and safe connections with surrounding neighbourhoods, with the completion of three new bridges. The project, valued at R143m, entailed constructing two pedestrian bridges and one vehicle bridge, as well as 2km of national road. The benefits of the project are not only evident in the new infrastructure, but also on the broad participation of the surrounding communities. In the two years since SANRAL started the project, a total of 67 small businesses were subcontracted, who further created 671 jobs, said John Fourie, a graduate engineer from SMEC South Africa – the main contractor appointed to the project. “In addition, 10 training programmes were offered through the project, benefiting 100 workers.”

Fourie explained that the training covered areas such as concrete practices, fabricating, erecting and removal of steel and timber formwork to walls, decks and beams of concrete structures. Community liaison officer Donald Soli said: “These bridges are very important. While they look beautiful, they are here to save the lives of all the children, who can now enjoy safe passage when walking to and from school.” Soli, the main point of contact among the community, SANRAL and SMEC, commended SANRAL for its upliftment of communities. “Through my role in the project, I learned that SANRAL really cares about the communities. They don’t just come to build roads and leave. Empowering the communities through jobs, skills transfer and subcontracting opportunities is at the heart of what they do,” he said.

One year after construction started on the Musina Ring Road in the north of Limpopo, the project is expected to be complete in the next 18 months, if climate permits.

The R625m project will divert traffic from the Beit Bridge border, away from Musina CBD, and result in major improvements in road safety and far less damage to the vital infrastructure of the town proper.

Resident engineer Ben Botes said trucks travelling to and from Beit Bridge are causing major damage to the road infrastructure in town. The roads are heavily congested, as heavy-duty vehicles have to share the narrow arteries with other road users and pedestrians.

Heavy traffic passing through the Musina CBD poses many dangers to pedestrians and local businesses have raised concerns about access to their own premises.

“The ring road will ease congestion and reduce the dust blown up by traffic, which creates health problems among residents. It will also save travel time for road users and reduce vehicle-operating costs,” Botes said.

The project benefits the region through job creation and business opportunities, especially for local residents. It includes the building of nine big structures, five bridges and four in situ culverts. Local subcontractors are involved in building these structures.

Owen Simba, site manager at Makali

Construction, said: “We are busy constructing the nine structures required for the road, the bridges and the culverts, at an investment of R114m. We have employed 12 skilled labourers, as well as 23 local general workers. And as the project progresses, we will start hiring more people.”

SANRAL is committed to creating equitable access for small contractors, particularly black-owned enterprises, through its procurement processes.

Baldwin Luvhengo is a previously unemployed general worker who is benefitting from the project. “It feels great to work again and now I am able to look after my family and put food on the table. I am saving some money to get a certificate in the construction field when the project is complete,” he said.

The 8km project runs through the Nancefield community, which required the relocation of 30 households. SANRAL sent a consultant to each household to negotiate the relocations.

“It was agreed that they would receive the same-sized structure that they had in Nancefield. The community is happy with this arrangement and is looking forward to the move,” said Petrus Mbedzi, the project liaison officer.

Botes said the project also consists of a barrier wall that will minimise noise levels for residents living next to the road. “I am confident that road users and the residents will soon start to enjoy the benefits of a newly constructed Musina Ring Road,” he said.