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GEORGE NEWS - The SA National Roads Agency (Sanral) is planning upgrades and maintenance work to the tune of R2.75bn on the N2 between Caledon and Plettenberg Bay starting next year.
According to Randall Cable, engineering manager at Sanral Western Region, projects planned in the George area include a new R88-m bridge over the Gwaiing River as well as another pedestrian bridge costing R29-m that will be located between the Thembalethu interchange and Garden Route Mall.
"Connecting footpaths will also be provided to link the local street network and residential areas on either side of the N2. The bridge and linking footways will be provided with lighting and CCTV coverage in order to provide a safe facility," said Cable.
Construction on the above two projects should start in the winter months of next year. Cable made the announcements at a presentation to media and other stakeholders at the King George Hotel on Friday.
Other projects in the Geroge area include improvements of R53-m at the Sandkraal interchange that should start in September 2017.
As previously reported in the George Herald, the N2 through Wilderness (from Kraaibosch to Die Vleie turnoff) will be upgraded at a cost of R250-m, a project that will also start next year. About R139-m will also be spent on periodic maintenance work between Great Brak River and Mossel Bay (23 km), starting in April.
In the rest of the Southern Cape, the following projects are currently in the design phase and will be rolled out from next year:
• Maintenance between Riviersonderend and Swellendam - R97-m;
• Improvement between Swellendam and Lizmore - R430-m;
• Improvement between Lizmore and Heidelberg - R450-m;
• Improvement between Heidelberg and Riversdale - R670-m;
• Upgrade of Knysna Nekkies intersection - R30-m;
• Improvement of Plettenberg Bay intersection (Beacon Road) - R80-m;
• Pedestrian facilities at Swellendam - R6-m;
Cable emphasised Sanral's role in infrastructure development and job creation in the province. "SMMEs benefit greatly from the road agency's projects because they perform a range of tasks such as routine road maintenance contracts. The contractors in turn create much-needed job opportunities for communities around the Southern Cape and along the N2."
Sanral manages about 22 000 km out of the country's 750 000 km road network, striving to implement the 'Safe System Approach' that is in line with the UN's Global Plan for improving road safety. It involves massive infrastructure investment to create safer road user facilities.
He said last year there were 12 944 fatalities on South African roads - the highest number of road fatalities per 100 000 citizens out of 37 countries (the rate is more than double the incidence in most of these countries).
During a site visit after the presentation to the recently completed pedestrian bridge and walkways between Pacaltsdorp and Thembalethu, Cable pointed out that vandalism to this new infrastructure is proving to be a challenge.
He said a large portion of the public also still has to be convinced that it is safe to use the walkways that are being monitored by security cameras 24 hours a day.
ARTICLE & PHOTOS: ALIDA DE BEER, GEORGE HERALD JOURNALIST
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