Sanral in R1.4bn upgrade of 13 roads, with R5bn more to be spent

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The SA National Roads Agency (Sanral) has spent more than R1.4bn in the financial year, which ended in March, to upgrade 13 major roads in the province.

The roads upgraded between April and March this year include:

• The construction of Baywest interchange in Port Elizabeth along the N2, at a cost of R350m;
  
• Resealing the N2 between Qumbu and Mt Frere – R55m;
  
• Maintenance of the R72 between Keiskamma River and the East London Airport, and between Fonkesteinkloof and Alexandria;
  
• A R130m R61 upgrade between St Barnabas and the Ntlaza CBD (about 20km from Mthatha);
  
• Rehabilitation of the R61 between Draai River and Elinus – R80m;
  
• Upgrade of the R61 between Qumanco River and All Saints (Ngcobo) – R209m;
  
• Resealing the R61/N6 to Upper Tsojana – R60m; and
  
• A R98m upgrade of the R63 between Alice and King William’s Town.

Sanral southern region manager Mbulelo Peterson said the projects would benefit economies by laying the foundation to further improve the attractiveness of the region for foreign and direct investment.

Peterson said in the 13 projects finalised at the end of March, 1988 jobs had been created, and 459 more people benefited from Sanral's training initiatives.

Public Works provincial spokesman Mphumzi Zuzile said: "In this 2016-17 financial year, Sanral plans to spend R5bn on our provincial roads."

It will include the upgrading of:

• The R390 from the N10 from Cradock through Hofmeyr to the R56 near Steynsburg;
  
• The R396 linking the R56 in Maclear to the N2 outside Tsolo, north of Mthatha;
  
• The R391 from the R56 between Steynsburg and Molteno to the R58 in Burgersdorp; and
  
• The R392, R410 and R58 from the N6 in Queenstown through Lady Frere and Cala to the R56 south of Elliot.

Source: Herald