The Civil Engineering Contractor April 2018 | Page 10

INFRASTRUCTURE AFRICA

Kempton Express

The provincial department has spent over R3-billion since 2014, undertaking heavy and light rehabilitation of the road infrastructure along various corridors in the province.

SOUTHERN AFRICA

SOUTH AFRICA

Gauteng: R30bn in transport infrastructure

The Gauteng Department of Roads and Transport has invested more than R30-billion in the past three years on public infrastructure projects. According to Roads and Transport MEC Ismail Vadi:“ The investments have been on improving our freeway and provincial road networks, the Gautrain, the modernisation of Metrorail, and the roll-out of bus rapid transit systems in metropolitan municipalities.“ This is apart from that which has been spent on social infrastructure projects such as schools, hospitals, and clinics.” The injection of funds into transport projects is meant to facilitate improved mobility, allow for social inclusion, stimulate economic growth, and enable the development of small and emerging contractors.

Since 2014, the provincial department has spent over R3-billion, undertaking heavy and light rehabilitation of the road infrastructure along various corridors in the province. In the current financial year, the department’ s allocated budget is R6.8-billion, with R1.9-billion specifically earmarked for transport infrastructure, according to Vadi. In construction and professional services, the department is spending up to 91 % of the budget on historically disadvantaged individuals( HDIs). He added that it is therefore critical to ensure that there is true empowerment of small, medium and micro enterprises( SMMEs) so that they become more sustainable and contribute to economic growth and development. Source: SAnews. gov. za

Bakwena announces road upgrades for 2018

Bakwena Platinum Corridor Concessionaire( Bakwena) will conduct several maintenance and construction projects along the N1N4 routes in 2018. The upgrades are required to ensure that the N1N4 route continues to meet the highest international standards for the road-paying motorists. Bakwena’ s commercial manager, Liam Clarke, says work worth an estimated R273-million commenced in July 2017 in Groot Marico between Vaalkop and the Swartruggens boundary on the N4 and will take 20 months to complete, with an anticipated completion date of February 2019. The rehabilitation of the N4 westbound carriageway between R512 and up to Buffelspoort interchange will be resurfaced. The project entails overlaying the existing surface with a 40mm-thick new asphalt surface. Base layer repairs and gravel reconstruction are also included in this project. The project is worth an estimated R100-million and is expected to take seven months to complete. Another 10-month project to upgrade the R512 interchange, which includes the provision of west-facing ramps, will cost an estimated R55-million. Clarke says construction of a second carriageway on the N4 between the M17 and the R512( Brits Interchange) will also be undertaken. The estimated construction period is 36 months at an estimated cost of R600-million.“ The project will include the extension of structures to accommodate the second carriageway and the realignment of interchange ramps to tie in with the new carriageway. The upgrade to dual carriageway will vastly improve the road safety and traffic capacity,” Clarke says. Source: Fleetwatch. co. za

8- CEC April 2018