Back route
takes
precedence

The R52 is the shortest and fastest route when travelling between Koster and Rustenburg. It's been some time since the road has been improved, apart from standard routine maintenance. That's about to change.

Road users and communities of Bojanala Platinum district municipality can look forward to a new and improved road, courtesy of SANRAL.

The project, although still in the design phase, will bring jobs, training and opportunities for local businesses, while also improving safety on this route. SANRAL will invest R660m in the project with R58m for designs and R602m for construction over a period of 30 months, starting in mid-2020, once designs have been completed and approved.

Presently the road is a 38.7km, two-lane single- carriageway from Koster to Rustenburg with gravel shoulders. The planned improvements will include the addition of paved shoulders and the construction of appropriate surfacing will be required.

The project limits are from the R509 and R52 section 3 junction in Koster, proceeding in a north-easterly direction towards the N4 and R52 section 3 junction west of Rustenburg.

According to SANRAL Project Manager Lungisani Muravha, the project will benefit small-, medium- and micro-enterprises (SMMEs) located next to the R52, and create jobs for local communities.

The road will not be tolled, despite all the improvements, and motorists can continue to enjoy the new road at no extra cost.

IN BRIEF: R52 upgrade Koster-Rustenburg

Project: The Improvement on National Roads R52 section 3 from Koster (Km 0.0) to N4 Rustenburg (Km 38.70)

Project scope: The addition of paved shoulders and construction of appropriate surfacing

Project value: R660m

Duration: 24 Months for design and completion of construction documents, to be completed by November 2019. Followed by construction of 30 months, commencing mid-2020. The contractor will be appointed once the design is completed

Current status: The R52 project is at the early stage of design. Ilifa Africa Engineers was appointed in November 2017 as consultants to commence work on designs

Project benefits: Improved safety, creation of jobs and job opportunities for local SMMEs and communities

R34 upgrade for safer, easier travel

No man is an island. And neither is the North West, a province that provides an important link to Botswana and is a sought-after tourist attraction. So it was obvious to SANRAL that it should help ensure that the roads in this province are upgraded and maintained to international standards.

Ever since the national roads agency took over responsibility for some of the province’s roads, it has been working tirelessly on many of the North West’s routes to ensure a smoother, safer, comfortable and less-congested travel experience for road users. One such route is the R34, a national road in the Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati district, from Schweizer-Reneke to Vryburg. It is commonly used to transport large cargo and links the N14/N18 in Vryburg with the N12 at Wolmaransstad.

The rehabilitation of the road, which is currently under way, involves upgrading the 31.8km length of road from a 6m surfaced cross-section to a 12.4m surfaced cross-section, upgrading its major intersections and improving stormwater infrastructure.

With the safety of those who use this road in mind, this project (which includes 900m of the town section) also involves the reconstruction of the slow lane and parking bays on either side of the road, removing and re-aligning the guardrails at the railway bridge, as well as the resurfacing of sidewalks.

The R34 provides a good alternative route for the heavy industrial traffic between Sishen and Gauteng. It also serves as an economic enabler by providing access to the east coast ports of South Africa.

Speaking about this upgrade, SANRAL Northern Region Manager Progress Hlahla said: “It was a no- brainer for us to give this important route some much- needed attention.

"Our pride is not only in the quality of our roads but in the fact that we have been able to empower locals through the job opportunities created and the training provided, as well as the local businesses contracted."

IN BRIEF: R34 upgrade
Schweizer-Reneke-Vryburg

Project value:

R286m

Project start:

6 February
2017

Project end:

3 December
2018

Current status:

67%
complete

Local Labour:

78

Imported labour:

36

Total labour:

114

Total subcontractors:

15

Map on next page

BUILDING SOUTH AFRICA THROUGH BETTER ROADS
 
HELLO NORTH WEST 2018