The South African National Roads Agency (SANRAL) has verified that the R81 national road project in Limpopo, which connects Munnik and Ga-Sekgopo, would be completed by the end of January 2022. The R152 million construction contract began in August 2019 and is expected to be completed in February 2021, according to Sanral. However, the project’s timeline had to be extended due to many setbacks, including Tropical Storm Eloise, which hit South Africa in early January.
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Once this portion of the R81 national road is finished, it will help boost mobility and ensure the safe flow of goods and services from Polokwane to Giyani in the Limpopo province. The broader road surface and additional safety measures for both cars and pedestrians in the Ga-Sekgopo hamlet, according to SANRAL project manager for the Northern area, Hannes van der Merwe, would significantly improve traffic flow.
R81 national road project details
According to Sanral, the R81 national road project will include the construction of a mandatory heavy vehicle stop at the top of the mountain pass (which will allow heavy vehicles to engage low gear before starting the downhill descent); the construction of wider formal intersections with turning lanes, walkways, and public transportation laybys; and the installation of new and additional road signs and road markings to improve the safety of both vehicles and pedestrians.
The deal also includes the construction of two bridges. Both bridges cross the river and are road-over-river bridges. The single bridge has been enlarged to enable additional traffic lanes and pedestrian pathways on both sides. The second bridge was reconstructed to a higher level and enhanced the bridge’s breadth to match the other bridge. The bridge’s height was extended to boost the bridge’s flood capacity.
Use of Local labor
According to Van der Merwe, the contract’s main value is the much-improved pedestrian safety it will implement, as well as the use of local labor throughout building operations. He also mentioned that the project’s principal contractor, Lonerock Construction, has hired up to 20 small, medium, and micro-businesses (SMMEs) as subcontractors. Since the start of the initiative, 164 individuals have been hired. The initiative also provides recognized NQF level three and four training possibilities, with up to 95 individuals of the local community have participated.
Entrepreneurial skills, estimating construction amounts, tendering for construction projects, and instruction on building stormwater gabion baskets on a construction site were all covered throughout the program. Sanral’s Northern Region Manager, Progress Hlahla, stated that the company recognizes that by providing and maintaining key infrastructure, it can assist in the creation of a capable and developing state and promote economic growth. The upgrading of the R81 national road from Munnik to Ga-Sekgopo exemplifies how this is taking shape. This initiative provides local companies and communities with job and training possibilities and the opportunity to tender for subcontracting.
