After much pressure the Vereeniging bridge and road that connects the south of Bloemfontien with Oliver Tambo Road is expected to be opened by the acting executive mayor of the Mangaung Metro, Gregory Nthatisi, today.
The work on the road, which was started in May 2021, entailed the extention of Vereeniging Road and the construction of a new bridge over the interchange.
This included a dual carriageway bridge over the railway line and the re-alignment of Ferreira Road under the new bridge.
It also included three intersections to the Vista Park 2 and 3 developments and the rehabilitation of the existing southbound carriageway connecting OR Tambo with Vereening Drive, which is a stretch of road over 2,1 km long.
Residents have for some length of time been very frustrated because the work relating to the bridge and road was seemingly finished, while the opening was postponed repeatedly. Many residents incurred significant extra fuel costs, being obligated to use detours to move between the neighbourhoods in the south and Hamilton and surrounding areas.
Dave Mc Kay of the DA, who resubmitted a petition signed by 2 000 residents to Nthatisi on 3 May, said he is relieved to see that the new leadership has seemingly rebuked the nonchalance and selfish attitude of predecessors.
“I am cautiously optimistic in saying that his current actions seem to be positive in that he is trying to get Mangaung service delivery back on track.”
According a media advisory sent out on Thursday, the acting mayor will open the road at 13:00 today.
