Update on Moloto Rd upgrade
The R573 Moloto Road is being upgraded by SANRAL. So far, construction is progressing steadily. The roads agency and contracted companies are working long hours to ensure that all work is done according to plan and is completed within the stipulated five to seven years.
This road is one of the busiest in the country and runs through three provinces: Gauteng, Mpumalanga and Limpopo. The aim is to make it safer and better for pedestrians and motorists.
The upgrade is one of the strategic infrastructure projects being undertaken by the government to revive the South African economy. National Treasury has set aside about R3bn for the project. However, the allocation is only for Mpumalanga and Limpopo sections. The Gauteng section of the R573 will be funded by the Gauteng provincial government, which is the custodian of this section.
In 2017, work started with the construction of traffic circles in major intersections in Marble Hall, Limpopo, as well as between Moloto and Moteti in the Thembisile Hani and Dr JS Moroka local municipalities, Mpumalanga.
Three more construction work packages for Limpopo and five more for Mpumalanga will be rolled out over the next five to seven years.
In order to address the infrastructure-, social- and economic-development needs of the communities around the R573, SANRAL has taken a decision to upgrade some access roads as community development projects. These projects will be labour intensive and therefore assist with skills transfer and training. They will be rolled out in the next three to four years and will target CIDB grade 1 SMMEs who are seeking
opportunities to learn and attain formal South African Qualifications Authority-accredited level 3 and 4 qualifications.
The project is creating many opportunities for local SMMEs and job possibilities for local labour. Based on the scope of work, SANRAL hopes to create some 12 500 jobs, broken down as follows:
• 3 250 in Mpumalanga
• 3 000 in Limpopo
• 6 250 in Gauteng
Local SMMEs will benefit immensely. SANRAL has awarded a good deal of work to local businesses, important for their growth and development.
The agency has developed a database of SMMEs to be considered for subcontracting and supply opportunities on different phases of the project. Registration is ongoing and interested SMMEs can register at their respective local municipalities.
N11 – More than a road
Roads serve a much bigger purpose than mere routes for travel. They can unlock the economic potential of a region, especially for a province like Mpumalanga, which is one of the major tourist destinations in the country.
Among the many attractions is the Loskop Dam Nature Reserve, which is home to over 70 species of wildlife, including three of the big five – buffalo, leopard and white rhino.
In 2015, SANRAL started with the rehabilitation of the section of the N11 from Middelburg to Loskop Dam, to improve access to the reserve. The scope of work included the widening of theKranspoort Pass to accommodate more traffic, adding two lanes, one in each direction. Some 165 local labourers were employed on the project and 22 SMMEs were subcontracted for supplies.
The improvements also include the installation of concrete barriers and the provision of two arrestor beds. Since the project was completed on 10 December 2017, it has become easier and safer to travel from Middelburg to Loskop.
According to SANRAL Project Manager Riaan Oerlemans, the N11 is more than a road, it is a gateway to a host ofopportunities, including jobs, education and healthcare facilities.
SANRAL will continue to invest more in road infrastructure in the province, because there’s a need and roads are important to economic growth.
N11 Middelburg-Loskopdam
R404m
2 February 2015
10 December 2017
165
(inclusive of women and youth)
226
22
