Project runs smoothly and on schedule despite small challenges.

A 14-kilometre stretch of the N1 from Winburg South to Winburg Station in the Free State has been upgraded.

The south-bound, two-lane carriageway has been rehabilitated and a new north-bound, two-lane carriageway has been constructed. 

Jan-Hendrik Els, the project’s resident engineer, said while the project was on schedule and had been relatively smooth, there had been some challenges regarding acquisition of materials, which were crushed on site. There were also labour issues around hiring from local communities. 

“These issues were quickly overcome through the help of project liaison officers and a steering committee that was set up with SANRAL’s help,” he said. 

Dawie Malan, the site agent on the project, said the expansion of the road was necessary because of high traffic volumes. 

Tahleho Jackson Mphosi is a SMME subcontractor who worked on guardrails, v-drains and vegetation control under the main contractor WBHO. 

“Working on this project has changed my life. My company now qualifies for CIDB grading 4. I bought two bakkies and I’m able to pay my employees decent salaries. To succeed in this job, you need to be dedicated and work hard. I learnt different things every day in road construction,” he said.