Picture: The N18 road in North West/Generic
By OBAKENG MAJE
The South African National Roads Agency SOC Limited (SANRAL) said it will be rolling out projects to improve some intersections on the national route N18. The SANRAL CEO, Reginald Demana said the roads agency has set aside about R78.3 million towards Routine Road Maintenance of the N18 from Naledi Municipal Border to the Botswana border post.
Demana further said the budget will also cover the R49 national road from Mahikeng to the Ramotshere-Moiloa Municipal border, and the R505 national road from the Ditsobotla Municipal border to the R49 intersection. He added that the scope of work for the project includes accommodation of traffic, pavement layer repairs, crack sealing and patching of asphalt pavements, and repair of edge breaks and edge drops.
“This includes the gravel shoulder repairs, construction of drainage works to combat erosion, cleaning of all drainage structures, including removal of grass and debris from grids as well as clearing bridge drainage ports and scuppers.
“The budget also includes the repairing damaged fencing, repairing damaged fencing, repairing damaged road signs, cleaning of road signs, installation and replacement of road studs, repairing damaged guardrails and balustrades, road reserve, including the median, and the removal of grass cuttings,” he said.
Demana said SANRAL is committed to creating economic value throughout South Africa. He said, therefore, local sub-contractors within the Ngaka Modiri Molema District and general workers from the targeted areas will be appointed throughout the life cycle of this project.
“This will be sourced from the database captured by the Project Liaison Officers representing both municipalities. The appointment of labourers will be based on the sub-contractor’s requirements, depending on activities.
“All general labourers being employed by the main contractor and sub-contractor, must be sourced from the project’s targeted areas only, with assistance from the project’s targeted areas only, with assistance from the affected sections,” said Demana.
He said for 2024, SANRAL will further roll-out projects for the provision of non-motorised and public transport facilities and improvements of intersections on N18 section 6 from 25.0 to 38.2km. Demana said the project worth R14.3 million, is scheduled to start in February 2024.
“The scope of work will include geometric improvements of four intersections, N18 and Sekonopo school access, N18 and Madibe town, N18 and Lekoko access, N18 and Tabernacle school access provision of pedestrian crossings.
“This will include the public transport facilities and sidewalks along intersections, reduction of speed to 60km per hour from both approaches, provision of traffic calming in the form of rumble strips, the addition of the left-turning tapers, the addition of street lighting and right-and – left-turning lanes, and closure of existing school access at the N18 and Tabernacle school access information,” he said.
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