GEORGE NEWS - Businesses are being negatively affected by the closure of PW Botha Boulevard for the upgrading of the intersection with Ossie Urban Road.

A business owner, who has requested anonymity, said his business has taken a huge knock since the road was closed some weeks ago. 

"We have heard that the project is standing still because of some approvals that are not in place. We cannot afford it being extended past its completion date of 22 October. My insurance does not cover losses of this kind."

Jannie Kruger, owner of MiniMix Concrete, said his clients are struggling to find his business premises because of the detour around the closure. "They do not want to come here anymore. We would like to know why the works have been stopped as we would like this project to be finished as soon as possible."

George Municipality spokesperson Chantèl Edwards confirmed that the project, phase 2 of the intersection upgrade, has been halted temporarily, but not due to outstanding approvals. 

"It is due to the planned in-situ concrete casting of an existing water pipeline within the roadway which required curing before work can proceed any further. The quality testing of the concrete has been received and it has met the specified concrete strength, so the construction of the layerworks can start now," she said on Tuesday 3 September.

She also explained that there is a clash in height levels between a new bulk storm water pipeline and an existing bulk fibre connector line of Dark Fibre Africa (DFA). 

"This will only be regarded as a delay once it interferes with work on the critical path of the project. This fibre line provides connectivity services to schools, businesses, municipal facilities, the central business district and cell towers and it is therefore not practical or possible to simply disconnect the local towers at short notice. 

Disconnection requires careful technical plans so that various areas in George may remain connected throughout the relocation process."

She said Civil Engineering Services, together with Dark Fibre Africa, is working on amending the services layout for the intersection upgrade, which may take three to six weeks to complete. This has been prioritised.

‘We bring you the latest Garden Route, Hessequa, Karoo news’