LOCAL NEWS - Work on the Gwaiing Road (DR1618) construction project will restart in April, according to Garden Route Mayor Andrew Stroebel.
The project was previously halted when teams were redeployed to areas impacted by heavy rains.
When completed by the Garden Route District Municipality (GRDM), the road will see a 4,4km stretch, between the R404 (Blanco side) and the R102 (George Airport side), upgraded from gravel to a tarred surface.
Stroebel said the project is to restart during April in line with the new budget cycle for provincial government. GRDM acts a roads agent for province. "The project should take a minimum of 10-months to be completed."
"I extend my sincere gratitude to the residents and road users who have shown remarkable patience during the construction delays."
The construction of tarred surfaced roads, like the Gwaiing road, consists of various underlying gravel layers, finished with a sealed (tarred) surface layer.
The layer works specific to the Gwaiing project are:
1. Lower Selected Subgrade (Roadbed): The natural soil prepared to support the road.
2. Upper Selected Subgrade (SSG): A layer of material placed on the roadbed to provide additional support.
3. Cemented Subbase: A layer of material placed on the subgrade to provide additional support.
4. Base Course: The main load-bearing layer, crucial for structural integrity.
5. Bituminous Surface (Tarring): The uppermost layer sealing the underlying layerworks and providing a smooth and durable surface.
Of the five layers, the base course is next in line to be prepared and completed. Surfacing (tarring) is the final step and is anticipated to be completed two weeks after the curing phase of the base course has been done.
Stroebel said the GRDM therefore anticipates having one fully completed lane ready by the middle of the 2025 calendar year. "Keep in mind again that every step of the process is dependent on the weather."
The second lane has been completed up to the SSG layer. Materials for the remaining layers will be procured and delivered over a 30-day period per layer, once the first lane has been successfully completed.
This phased approach is designed to minimise traffic disruptions for residents, as traffic will be shifted to the completed lane, allowing for construction to take place on the last lane. As material is being delivered, processing, compaction, and testing will be done continuously on the remaining layers.
"The entire project is done by GRDM, fully in-house with our permanent staff, and with the utilisation of the Expanded Public Works Programme where we appoint labour on a contract basis for developing their skills," said Stroebel.
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