SANRAL has invested more than R8 billion on roads construction projects in the Eastern Cape, and most of these projects have benefitted majority black-owned companies.

The  projects under construction include the upgrading of R63 section 13 from Fort Beaufort to Alice, the upgrading of the R67 from Swart Kei River to Komani (formerly Queenstown), the N2 Wild Coast Road (N2WCR) Msikaba Bridge construction and the construction of the N2 Breidbach and Belstone Interchanges.

Some of the projects recently awarded include construction of the N2 Ndabakazi Interchange and the road improvement project of the N2 from Makhanda (formerly Grahamstown) to Fish River phase 3.

The Mtentu Bridge contract on the N2WCR, valued at R4.05 billion, and the R56 Matatiele to KZN Boundary project, valued at R1.2 billion, have recently been awarded by SANRAL. Various community development projects are also being undertaken in parts of the province.

Key projects that are at award stage include the slope stabilisation of the R58 between Lady Grey and Barkley East, and the special maintenance project of the R390 from Cradock to Hofmeyr. Projects under evaluation include the road improvement project of the R63 from N6/R63 intersection to the N2/R63 intersection (Qumrha), and the R63 section 15 to section 16 Bhisho to N6 Bridge.

Several of SANRAL’s major projects in the Eastern Cape traverse rural areas, connecting the province’s rural roads to urban centres whilst stimulating economic development within those rural communities.

“At SANRAL we always endeavour to link infrastructure development to economic development in our country. We see ourselves as not only responsible for building and maintaining the national road network, but our mandate is also to be a catalyst for economic growth and development. The developments that SANRAL has undertaken in the Eastern Cape are linked to other secondary roads in the province, and we continue to ensure integration and synergy with local and provincial roads, in the process improving the socio-economic conditions of those that live alongside our national road network,” said SANRAL Southern Region Stakeholder Coordinator Welekazi Ndika.