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."