The South African National Roads Agency SOC Ltd (Sanral) announced an investment worth R2,7 billion towards the maintenance and construction of roads in the Free State. The state agency made the announcement on 20 August, in Windburg, while briefing the community and stakeholders at a meeting.
The new investment in road infrastructure is additional to the other projects already underway and nearing completion in the province.
Hugh Brooks, Sanral’s eastern region project manager, said the investment entails improvements and routine maintenance work on parts of the N1 covering the Scottland-Winburg and Zandkraal-Scottland roads, including routine maintenance of the R730 and R34 provincial roads between the Winburg station and Ventersburg.
“Opportunities through the project is 30% reserved for subcontracting opportunities. As Sanral, through these projects we want to share employment opportunities in the communities in the Masilonyana Local Municipality. Sanral will embark on various improvement projects in the Lejweleputswa District Municipality,” he said.
According to Brooks, there were economic spin-offs for local small, medium and micro enterprises (SMMEs), in the form of contractors, suppliers, and professionals in all Sanral’s commissioned projects.
“At least 30% of the contract value is earmarked for subcontracting to SMMEs, through open tenders in Sanral’s transformation policy which is designed to maximise the participation of SMMEs,” said Brooks.
Brooks revealed the work scope entails improvements on the southern Scottland to Winburg route, and the upgrade and rehabilitation of the new southbound carriageway of the new dual freeway.
“A completely new northbound carriageway will be constructed on the west side of the existing road,” said Brooks.
Sanral’s maintenance and improvement of the R34 and R730 roads is part of its partnership with the Free State government.
Maqueen Letsoha-Mathae, Free State premier, announced during the delivery of her maiden state of the province that the provincial government has, to date, transferred 568,75 km of road to Sanral for improvements, owing to the provincial government’s failure to maintain the roads. The roads transferred include the R700 between Bloemfontein and Bultfontein; the R710 between Bultfontein and Welkom; the R30 between the R730 intersection north of Theunissen to Odendaalsrus; the R26 from Ladybrand to Bethlehem; the R34 from the north-western part of the Free State-KwaZulu-Natal border; and the R74 linking Harrismith to the KwaZulu-Natal border.
Letsoha-Mathae said additional roads will be transferred to Sanral for repair and maintenance, in line of the plan to revive the province’s ailing economy and deliver essential services. She expressed confidence that the completion of these projects and ongoing maintenance will bolster economic growth, facilitate access to essential services, and enhance interprovincial connectivity.
Owing to the provincial neglect, about 70% of Free State roads were declared a danger to motorists due to terrible conditions.
