The R706, a regional route connecting Bloemfontein with Jagersfontein and Fauresmith, is being revamped as a part of a road maintenance programme by the Free State Department of Community Safety, Roads, and Transport.
The work entails the resealing of the road surface.
The MEC for the department, Maqueen Letsoha-Mathae, announced the project was undertaken to the tune of R59 million, and the subcontracting value was R9,5 million for different Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB) opportunities. Part of the project is a 1% social contribution of R551 898.
The project has created temporary employment opportunities. Following a consultative community meeting, 40 residents of Lourierpark were hired, while others hired were from Jagersfontein.
- The provincial government’s inability to maintain and upgrade road infrastructure has seen the responsibility transferred to the South African National Roads Agency (Sanral) for strategic roads. This failure saw conditions deteriorating and about 70% of Free State roads were declared a danger to motorists due to terrible conditions.
The roads transferred to Sanral include the R700 between Bloemfontein and Bultfontein; the R710 between Bultfontein and Welkom; and the R30 between the R730 intersection north of Theunissen to Odendaalsrus.
