Upgrading of N7 will stimulate economic development

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Another R1.6bn has also been allocated for future upgrades which makes this one of the largest and most significant infrastructure improvement projects in the Western Province undertaken by SANRAL in recent years.

The current projects include the construction of a dual carriage way to Malmesbury, and several new interchanges including one at Melkbosstrand, completed in February this year with more to follow in the second and third phases of the upgrades in the next three years until 2018.

Recently completed projects to the value of R721m include the road improvements between Melkbosstrand and Philadelphia, between Clanwilliam and Trawal, and the section between Trawal and Vanrhynsdorp. Just over 600 jobs were created for the duration of these projects and R96m was spent on labour while SMME's benefited to the tune of R86m.

Development follows roads

Speaking at a business briefing at Malmesbury recently, Randall Cable, engineering manager of Road Network Operations at SANRAL in the Western Region, says in the period 2012 to 2017 a total of R4.1bn would be invested in road improvements. "Economic development always follows roads and the N7 is no exception," he says.

It is anticipated that a further R100m will be spent on labour for the next phases of the road improvements, creating 480 new jobs, while almost R200m has been budgeted for spending on the services to be provided by SMME's.

"Every metre of the national road network is covered by routine road maintenance which includes grass cutting, fence repairs, and the removal of debris. Daily patrols are carried out and once a pothole has been reported, there is a 48hr turnaround time," says Cable.

Once complete, the dual carriage way to Malmesbury could stimulate development at the town and surrounding areas. More people would be able to live in the town and commute daily on this faster and safer route into Cape Town.