The South African National Roads Agency Soc Limited (Sanral) has awarded tenders to the value of R1.4 billion for the construction of road infrastructure in the Eastern Cape since the start of the 2024/25 financial year.
A further R3.8bn in contracts was expected to be awarded by the end of the year, the roads agency announced in a statement on Monday.
The awarded tenders include a contract for the construction of the R61 section between Luqoqweni and Bambisana to the value of R174 million, the upgrading of the N2 section from Bloukrans to Storms River to the value of R93m and a contract for the slope stabilisation along the R61 section near Cofimvaba valued at R44m, all awarded in mid-August.
Sanral southern region manager, Mbulelo Peterson, said the agency had awarded 12 road infrastructure contracts totalling R1.4bn.
“Our accelerated road infrastructure build programme is on track to bring the state of the province’s road network to a pristine and safe driving standard while improving accessibility in rural and remote areas of the Eastern Cape,” Peterson added.
“Furthermore, 24 tenders are in evaluation stage, and we anticipate these to be awarded in the last quarter of the year.”
Contracts currently in the evaluation phase for design and for construction are valued at R3.8bn. These include the upgrading of the R61 sections from All Saints to Bhaziya and between Qumanco and Ngcobo, the Pikoli to Glenmore access road from the N2 intersection, and the R62 from Louterwater to Kareedouw. Contracts for these projects are expected to be awarded by the end of the 2024 calendar year.
Sanral will be advertising a further 14 tenders with an estimated value of R1.2bn over the next few weeks.
These include the contract for the upgrading of the R62 section from Joubertina to Louterwater, the N2 section from Mbokotwana River to Qumbu, and the widening of the N2 from Viedgesville to Mthatha to a double carriageway to ease traffic congestion in the Mthatha CBD.
“The bulk of the investment will be in the eastern part of the province, which is the most populous area of the Eastern Cape and where the road infrastructure is lacking,” Peterson said.
“Our focus will largely be around Mthatha, a key economic hub of the province, with a total investment of around R5bn to improve mobility in and out of the city along the N2 from Viedgesvile to the city centre and later in 2025 on the R61 from the Mthatha Airport to Madeira Street.”
Seventeen routine road maintenance contracts, with an estimated value of R1.2bn, will be taken to market over the next few months as the current contracts reach their conclusion.
Peterson said major projects under way in the province were progressing well, including the R1.2bn upgrade of the N2 section between KwaBhaca and Ngcweleni River near EmaXesibeni, the R1.2bn upgrade of the R56 from Matatiele to the KwaZulu-Natal boundary, and the R1.3bn upgrade of the R63 from Bhisho to the N6 intersection.
“Our flagship N2 Wild Coast Road (N2WCR) project is picking up speed, with three major contracts under way, including the Msikaba Bridge, the Mtentu Bridge, and the construction of the road linking the bridges (Package 5). Earlier in August we announced the imminent construction of the R2.2bn road from Lingeni village to Msikaba Bridge, anticipated for early 2025,” he added.
