SANRAL Investing in the environment

Walking the walk

Good fences make good neighbours along the N2 in George, where both pedestrians and cars can now move safely

SANRAL recently unveiled brand new, safer walkways that stretch about 8km along the N2 in George – between the York Street interchange and the Garden Route Mall. The walkways are designed to provide safe movement for residents of Thembalethu, Pacaltsdorp, Lawaaikamp and Ballotsview. Western Region Manager Kobus van der Walt said: “Approximately 40% of all deaths on South African roads are pedestrians. They are the most vulnerable group of all road users and safety is a big priority for SANRAL.” To ensure that pedestrians do not cross the highway at will, a 2m-high, welded-mesh fence was erected along the N2, separating the pathways from the freeway. The fence also bars stray animals from wandering onto the freeway, which has been a cause for concern. Van der Walt said that the targeted spend on SMMEs for this project was R24.3m and for labour it was R12.2m. Key elements of the construction were the use of the local labour force. The rolling terrain actually made this project more amenable to labour-enhanced construction, as heavy construction vehicles could not operate in these conditions. Manual labour is required to build pathways on steep slopes. “This project had the added advantage of providing employment to many people from the George area,” Van der Walt said. A new pedestrian bridge has also been constructed alongside the N2, allowing pedestrians and cyclists to move safely across the railway line at Meul River.

Amajor element of the R61 mega infrastructure project in the Eastern Cape is complete. The R550m Mthatha Sprigg Street to Ngqeleni Road infrastructure programme is part of a master plan for tourism and other long-term mega projects in the Eastern Cape. It began on 16 September 2013 and was completed on 8 September 2017. The project included the construction of a new 7.3km dual carriageway between Mthatha and the turn-off to Ngqeleni. The eastbound carriageway was completely new, while the westbound carriageway involved upgrading existing infrastructure. As a result of the new carriageway, six new bridges were constructed: one each over the Mthatha River, the Corana River, Sidwadweni River on Bernard Schultz Drive. An agricultural overpass bridge and two new interchange bridges were constructed at the Ngqeleni turn-off. Two large agricultural underpass culverts were also built. SANRAL’s Southern Region Manager, Mbulelo Peterson, said: “The R61 Mthatha Sprigg Street to Ngqeleni turn-off project is one of several, each with different starting and completion dates, in a mega road infrastructure

development and safety programme for the R61 that commenced in 2011 and will be completed by 2020.” The plan is to improve the safety of road users and pedestrians by closing unsafe intersections, building a new interchange at Ngqeleni turn-off and the construction of new, formalised intersections. It’s an integrated road safety programme that aims to decrease road hazards that could cause fatal crashes. Many traffic incidents on the R61 between Mthatha and Ngqeleni involve motorists hitting stray animals. Between December 2014 and January 2015, local traffic authorities impounded 266 stray animals – including goats, cattle, sheep and donkeys. To address the problem, SANRAL has constructed two agricultural culverts. The project has created work for 60 small, medium and micro enterprises (SMMEs), of which 48 were black-owned entities. A total of 628 jobs was created. “The project has also brought meaningful social development to residents and communities,” Peterson said. SANRAL delivered 31 new, replacement houses to residents whose dwellings fell under the construction

footprint. Sixteen Walter Sisulu University students from the community gained on-site experiential training in order to obtain their diploma. Local SMMEs were mentored to National Home Builders Registration Council (NHBRC) standards in the construction of relocation houses. They participated in courses including construction

tendering, basic computer literacy and site administration and monitoring. Workers were provided with road safety and environmental awareness training. This project links up with other programmes, including the conversion of Sprigg Street and Madeira Street in Mthatha’s CBD into a one-way system to improve traffic flow.