KOU-KAMMA – Eastern Cape Premier Lubabalo Oscar Mabuyane has expressed satisfaction with progress on the reconstruction of the flood-damaged section of the R62 between Kareedouw and Joubertina, with the contractor expected to reopen both lanes within two months.
Mabuyane conducted an oversight visit to the affected section of the R62 in Kou-Kamma Local Municipality on 11 August to assess the damage caused by the May disaster and receive an update on efforts to restore the critical transport route.
“The R62 is an important corridor through the Langkloof, connecting communities including Kareedouw, Joubertina, Krakeel, Louterwater and Misgund,” said Mabuyane.
“The route also supports tourism, economic activity and the movement of people and goods across the Sarah Baartman District.”
Mabuyane said he visited the area to monitor and evaluate progress on the reconstruction of the damaged section of the R62.
He said the provincial government had previously engaged national government on challenges surrounding the response to disasters, including delays in getting interventions under way.
“We had a discussion with the national ministers, a Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs-led meeting which included the Minister of Finance, to discuss the challenges of turnaround time on disasters, and then we proposed some reforms on how best these issues can be dealt with,” said Mabuyane.
He said disaster responses had to comply with existing laws and regulations, which could make it difficult to move quickly.
“Because when things like this happen, unfortunately, there’s not much flexibility. There is an intended way to make things happen faster, but you’ll never get it easy,” said Mabuyane.
“We must respect the laws, and we know sometimes what normally happens during disaster, so we are always extra careful.”
Despite these challenges, Mabuyane said he was pleased with the progress on the R62.
“I’m quite happy with the progress that has been made now,” said Mabuyane.
“As you can see, work has begun and the contractor said they will be done within two months which means in two months’ time the road’s two lanes will be opened.”
In July, the South African National Roads Agency SOC Limited (SANRAL) anticipated that reconstruction would take three months.
With one month having passed since then, Mabuyane’s two-month timeframe is broadly in line with SANRAL’s original estimate.
As previously reported, SANRAL completed its damage assessment of the collapsed section in June after the section was washed away during severe weather in May, with SANRAL confirming the closure on 7 May.
In July, SANRAL spokesperson Lwando Mahlasela said the assessment found that the problem was not with the structural capacity of the culvert, but with the management of the surrounding catchment area.
He said the river alignment had shifted over the years, resulting in the culvert no longer being positioned at the lowest point.
As a result, Mahlasela said the increased flow during the floods in May channeled the water into the embankment and failure was unavoidable.
At the time, he said a bypass was established to maintain access for road users while reconstruction was under way.
Early in July, Kou-Kamma Local Municipality confirmed that the municipality, alongside SANRAL, had introduced the contractor to local stakeholders and affected communities and that work had officially begun.
You must be logged in to post a comment.