R6 billion worth of work in the market for Western Cape and Northern Cape

MEDIA RELEASE

R6 billion worth of work in the market for Western Cape and Northern Cape

Western Cape, 9 September 2024 – The South African National Roads Agency SOC Limited (SANRAL) has awarded 36 tenders worth R4.2 billion in the Western Region (Western Cape and Northern Cape) since the start of the 2024/25 financial year, with 12 tenders worth approximately R2 billion currently being evaluated.

Randall Cable, the Regional Manager for the Western Region, said this aggressive drive to put out work into the market speaks to SANRAL’s commitment to economic recovery.

“The SANRAL footprint is growing and a continuous pipeline of projects both to maintain and develop our national road network is key to stimulate economy growth and the creation of job opportunities,” said Cable.

He reiterated that SANRAL has made tremendous progress on its periodic maintenance programmes in the Western and Northern Cape, with several resurfacing projects recently completed or in the final stages of completion.

N2 Cape Town upgrade – A portion of the N2 between Swartklip Interchange and Baden Powell Interchange, approximately 12km in length, adjacent to Khayelitsha and Mfuleni in the City of Cape Town, is currently under design. The project entails the upgrading from a four (4) lane to six (6) /eight (8) lane divided highway, four (4) major interchange upgrades and pedestrian safety infrastructure.

A 6km portion of the N2 needs to be raised due to increased water levels. The project will make a significant contribution to road safety by formalising pedestrian and public transport facilities within the N2 road reserve, including the replacement of the old street lighting. Channelising pedestrians to safe crossing points is key to the safety improvements. The detailed design is being finalised. The project cost estimate is approximately R2 billion, and the construction tender is to be advertised in November 2024.

N2 Garden Route – The R160 million dualling of the Thembalethu Bridge over the N2 in George was recently completed, providing safer access to communities. This was a jointly funded project with the George Municipality. Major upgrades and improvements of the N2 from Kraaibosch to Touw River in the Wilderness, are currently under construction with more works planned in Phase 2 between the Touw River and Die Vleie. The combined estimated value of Phase 1 and Phase 2 of the N2 Wilderness upgrades is more than R1,5 billion.

N1, Old Oak to Koelenhof – The detailed design has been completed for the N1 improvements for approximately 13 km, between Old Oak and Koelenhof interchanges, with an estimated cost of more than R3 billion. The project entails upgrading from four (4) lanes to a six (6)/eight (8) lane divided highway, five (5) major interchange upgrades and pedestrian safety infrastructure, including street lighting over the entire length. SANRAL is in final preparations to go to market for this project.

N7 upgrade – Work on the upgrades to the N7 in the Western Region is ongoing and has already seen more than R3.5 billion invested into the economy, with more than 40km of dual carriageway freeway and eight interchanges constructed, the last of which was completed in 2020. Nearly R1 billion was spent on targeted enterprises over the last 10 years. The current R600 million upgrades between Malmesbury and Moorreesburg is due for completion in early 2025. There are other periodic contracts on the go and more recently awarded.

Huguenot Tunnel – The tunnel has been operating for more than 36 years, allowing more than 112 million vehicles to pass through safely. In keeping with international safety standards as well as meeting the mobility demands of the significantly increased traffic volumes that come with urban development, SANRAL is upgrading the tunnel. Extensive improvements have been made to the existing tunnel (South Bore) in the last 24 months, which include upgrades to the tunnel lighting, ventilation and fire detection systems. The upgrade of the second tunnel (North Bore) is overdue and the final detailed design has recently been completed. SANRAL is preparing to go to market shortly on this five-year construction contract. The project will cost approximately R4 billion to complete.

N9 Colesberg to Northern Cape/Eastern Cape border – The resurfacing of the N9 was recently completed to the tune of R200 million, of which approximately R60 million was spent on targeted enterprises. Further resurfacing along the N9 is still under construction.

SANRAL had also completed a Community Development (CD) project in the town of Noupoort. This CD project augmented the economic opportunities for locals, by creating work for at least 100 individuals. It was designed to maximise labour-intensive construction methods, which includes the construction of block streets and the use of pre-cast kerbing. Furthermore, 13 work packages were created for subcontracting and all the subcontractors were drawn from Noupoort. The work was completed at a cost of R16 million, with R4.8 million spent on labour.

N8 Kimberley to Campbell – The 100km resurfacing of the N8 between Kimberley and Campbell was recently completed at a cost of R160 million. Of that, approximately R66 million was spent on subcontractors. SANRAL is currently undertaking work from Campbell to Groblershoop, which is in various stages of design and construction.

“SANRAL remains committed to using its procurement power not only to improve the road infrastructure across the Western and Northern Cape but also to ensure genuine transformation where smaller black-owned businesses will have the opportunity to participate meaningfully in the economy,” said Cable.

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