“As members of the trout family, we would like to thank SANRAL for saving us from the disruption of the environment on the R71, where our home is underground, during the rehabilitation of this road in November last year.”

The project of the road was a relief for motorists travelling between Moria and Tzaneen in Limpopo. SANRAL was asked to take control of the road rehabilitation on the major regional road.

It was a section close to the Stanford Lake College and raised environmental concerns. For the trout, a fish ladder has also been completed so that they can survive. However, upgrading the bridge meant that the trout would be cut off from their spawning grounds.

SANRAL’s communications manager, Vusi Mona, said the importance of trout fishing for the whole Haenertsburg/Magoebaskloof area meant a fish ladder had to be added.

Trout travel downstream during their lifetime but return to their place of origin when breeding. The water under the bridge was very shallow and when it spreads out, they won’t be able to swim upstream.