Gwaiing Road rehabilitation on schedule

GARDEN ROUTE NEWS - The R67m Gwaiing Road (DR1618) rehabilitation is progressing smoothly and remains on track for completion by June 2024. The budget for the project was allocated by the Western Cape Government (WCG).

Garden Route District Municipality (GRDM) continues its function through an agency agreement for the WCG and remains committed to delivering critical regional road infrastructure projects as planned.

A site inspection was conducted on Monday 15 May by WCG Minister of Infrastructure Tertuis Simmers, GRDM Mayor Memory Booysen, George Mayor Leon van Wyk and other representatives from provincial and local governments.

Findings were positive with Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) workers and municipalities working towards common goals of completing a world-class road within the planned budget and on schedule.

According to John Daniels, GRDM executive manager for roads services, 44 of the 70 employees working on the project are employed under the EPWP.

The group of EPWP workers were pleasantly surprised by the high-ranking officials' visit to their site camp.

Simmers also engaged with the EPWP workers and to hear what their needs were. He was subsequently briefed during a walkabout by Chesney Roelf, GRDM senior engineering technician, about the progress of the project.

Simmers boasted about projects of nearly R500m that were completed in the Western Cape months ahead of schedule, of which one will be officially handed over by July and the other towards the end of November.

"The WCG has exceeded all our full-time equivalent EPWP targets and plans to push for more EPWP workers to be upskilled going forward," he said.

Roelf said that they are currently erecting new fencing along the project site and are busy with the first of four road layer works. "The GRDM is also constructing the roadbed, and upgrading the storm water network. The road will be 6,8m bituminous surfaced width, ideal for commercial agricultural transport."

Simmers alluded to the impact of commercial agricultural transportation on such roads and Daniels confirmed that the road layers will include cement and bitumen mixes that are flexible to provide structural strength.

When George Mayor Leon van Wyk pointed out the importance of proper storm water management, Roelf explained that GRDM is installing 27 pipe crossings with concrete headwalls to ensure effective storm water management.

GRDM will also upgrade storm water drainage channels.

"At specific sections of the project, concrete-lined drains will be implemented to enhance drainage efficiency and prevent water-related issues," said Roelf.

WCG and the GRDM sincerely appreciate the public's patience and understanding as they work diligently to upgrade the road infrastructure.

WCG Minister Tertuis Simmers thanked the EPWP workers for their dedication and inspired them to work towards a future where they can also be contracted to manage projects.

GRDM senior engineering technician Chesney Roelf (middle) briefs the officials on the progress of the project. From left are George Mayor Leon van Wyk, WCG Minister Tertuis Simmers, Roelf, GRDM executive manager for roads John Daniels and GRDM Municipal Manager Monde Stratu.