Taking SANRAL to KwaZulu-Natal

simulator and SANRAL officials shared information about its programmes and opportunities the roads agency offers

Siphiwo Mxhosa, SANRAL Stakeholder Manager, said in his presentation that at the heart of SANRAL’s transformation policy was the empowerment of the previously disadvantaged. He said the draft Transformation Policy was designed to accelerate transformation in the construction sector.

Dumisani Nkabinde, SANRAL Eastern Region Operations and Maintenance, said apart from improving roads infrastructure, SANRAL was also contributing to economic empowerment and poverty alleviation by ensuring that small, medium and microenterprises (SMMEs) are exposed to work experience that would otherwise not have been possible.

Nomsa Modise, Project Manager for Social Economic Development in the Eastern Region, gave a presentation on the community participation process and community engagement as it related to contracts.

SANRAL Eastern Region Design and Construction Manager Ravi Ronny gave the main presentation, which outlined various major projects in KZN.

He said that the 84km freeway between Durban and Pietermaritzburg was planned to be upgraded in phases over the next eight to 10 years.

The opening of a truck weigh bridge and a new interchange has boosted the safety of motorists and pedestrians, as well as preserving the road surface on the KwaZulu-Natal North Coast.

The Eteza Traffic Control Centre and the Kwabhoboza interchange were constructed by SANRAL at a total investment of almost R500m.

The Eteza Traffic Control Centre will help curb extensive overloading of trucks which has resulted in a marked deterioration in the condition of the province’s road network.

Damage to roads as a result of overloading leads to higher maintenance and repair costs and shortens the life of a road. This in turn places an additional burden on the state as well as law-abiding road users who ultimately carry the costs of careless and inconsiderate overloading.

At the overload control facility at Eteza, heavy vehicles of more than five tons gross mass are weighed. Drivers of heavy vehicles will receive a fine if the vehicle exceeds the permissible mass on gross mass or axle unit mass.
The overload control facility is also used to inspect the roadworthiness of vehicles on a 24-hour basis.

At Kwabhoboza, the existing intersection was very busy and the high speed of the vehicles travelling on the N2 made the crossing extremely dangerous, not only for motorists but also for pedestrians trying to cross at this intersection.

The improvements at the interchange have resulted in improved and safer walkways for pedestrians, improved safety for pedestrians and motorists and a reduction in collisions.

In addition, taxi lay byes and pedestrian facilities were provided within the interchange precinct. A new pedestrian fence on the road reserve within the KwaMsane community was also installed.
Apart from contributing to road safety and preserving the roads infrastructure, the two SANRAL projects also involved the community through job creation and training.