A multimillion-rand resurfacing project by the South African National Roads Agency SOC Limited (SANRAL) has commenced in the Eastern Cape.

The R226-million road resurfacing project of the R67 between Grahamstown and Fort Beaufort is set to be complete by October 2018.

The length of road to be resurfaced is about 70.7 kilometres, extending northwards from the intersection to the N2 near Grahamstown to the intersection with the R63 at Fort Beaufort.

SANRAL Southern Region manager Mbulelo Peterson said: “This road provides a regional link between various smaller towns in the middle part of the Eastern Cape.
“SANRAL has already appointed a contractor to repair, patch and resurface.”

The road will be repaired where required. It will be resurfaced with new road markings and road studs installed.

Peterson added that the works are located within the boundaries of two district municipalities – including Dr Beyers Naude (previously known as Sarah Baartman) and Amathole, and in the local municipalities of Makana and Raymond Mhlaba (previously known as Nkonkobe).

“The roadworks comprise of proactive preventative maintenance and would include, but would not be limited to, the accommodation of traffic; excavation; shaping and trimming of drainage; pavement repairing, pre-treatment and texture slurry; double seal resurfacing; ancillary works and surfacing of existing shoulders,” said Peterson.

Motorists are advised to observe and obey warning signs and reduce speed limits while exercising extreme caution when travelling through the construction work zones. Meanwhile, SANRAL is appealing for patience by road users as it improves the road condition.