GEORGE NEWS - The final basic assessment report on the proposed upgrade of the N2 through Wilderness by the South African National Roads Agency Limited (Sanral) is available for a 30-day commenting period that started on 22 September.

Interested and affected parties are invited to attend a public information session on the project proposal on Thursday 28 September any time between 15:30 and 19:00 at the Wilderness Hotel. 

Members of the project team will be available to answer questions.

The report is available at www.enviropart.co.za and at the George Library in Caledon Street, George.

Sanral proposes to upgrade a 15-kilometre section of the N2 national road between Kraaibosch, George and Die Vleie, Wilderness, to improve road safety and mobility.

As the N2 is a formal freeway, Sanral's objective is to close direct access onto and off the freeway. 

The route passes through the Kaaimans Pass and through coastal urban and conservation areas. 

There is little opportunity for realignment of the route due to the physical constraints, and the intention is therefore to upgrade it along its current alignment.

This is the fourth public consultation process and is being undertaken as part of the regulated environmental basic assessment process.

As a result of consultation with the public, organs of state and Sanral, the proposed road upgrade has been altered in places to reduce environmental impacts and engineering challenges.

Interested and affected parties are invited to submit comments on the report on or before 23 October, directly to The Environmental Partnership, PO Box 945, Cape Town, 8000, via e-mail to comments@enviropart.co.za, or per fax to 021 422 0998. Phone them on 021 422 0999 for more information.

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