Buffalo City Metro and national road authority Sanral have revived a multimillion-rand project to link the coastal R72 with the N2.
The development has been in the pipeline for nearly 20 years.
A feasibility study was completed in 2004, but the project was put on ice as BCM could not afford to implement it.
But now BCM has roped in South African National Road Agency Limited (Sanral) to rescue the dream, which is part of a larger plan to develop the West Bank at the same time as alleviating traffic congestion in the East London CBD.
The project is likely to create a substantial number of new jobs during the construction phases.
At a recent council meeting it was resolved that BCM’s acting city manager, Nceba Ncunyana, should “enter into a service level agreement with Sanral for the design and implementation of the East London bypass road known as the Buffalo River Bridge and Arterial Link between the N2 and the R72”.
Ncunyana said the metro had already paid R9-million to Sanral towards a new feasibility study as the existing one was old.
He said restarting the process of route identification meant the metro needed to consult and investigate if they could continue with the existing plan as the land had been invaded since the feasibility study was completed in 2004.
“The project is quiet, sophisticated and highly technical and we are looking at about 200 jobs,” he said.
“If we can deal with the feasibility study and designs and advertising in the next two years, in the third year we can start with the construction and that could take a minimum of two years for the construction period.
“The only thing that could take us a bit of time is acquiring the land if it’s owned privately but we don’t anticipate too much of that,” Ncunyana said.
The development is also designed to ease traffic flow between the CBD and East London Airport, as well as benefit hundreds of workers who travel between the West Bank area, Mdantsane, King William’s Town and Bhisho.
When first conceptualised in 1997, the project was estimated to cost more than R400-million.
Its success was said to depend “to a large extent on the support it receives from the East London public”. This was because already then hundreds of families would have had to move as the plans show the bypass running through a number of existing residential areas.
In a report before council last month Ncunyana said back in 1997 the Ninham Shand company was appointed by the East London Transitional Local Council to undertake a feasibility study and preliminary design.
“The feasibility report recommended construction of a new four-way link between the airport bypass and R72 by the year 2015,” he said.
Other recommendations include construction of a 375m bridge across the Buffalo River, an upgrade to Woolwash Road and a new 7.3km stretch of highway between the Ziphunzana bypass and the R72.
“The ultimate design is the construction of a dual carriageway from N2 to the airport bypass (R72) once the actual traffic is in line with the projected traffic in the medium-term so as to warrant the widening of the road to a dual carriageway,” the report states.
Although Sanral could not respond to Dispatch questions yesterday Ncunyana said: “The metro has revived the engagement with Sanral in order to get project back on track.
“ had a bilateral meeting with Sanral on February12.
“Sanral accepted the revival of the project and requested the municipality to send a written request taking into account that the municipality would be in charge of making the land available as previously agreed and procurement thereof.
“The municipality does not have funding to implement the project, hence it is proposed that the project be given to Sanral to implement.”
The cost of procuring the required land and possible removal of households, said Ncunyana, “would be known once the review of the route has been completed”.
Border-Kei Chamber of Commerce chairman Les Holbrook said the development was much needed, including by the East London IDZ.
He said: “It’s an old project that the chamber has lobbied for for years but the problem has been the expensive bridge proposed for the route.
“It’s a good thing BCM has finally gone to Sanral – it’s a positive development and it should not take more than three years to complete.”
DA councillor Jan Smit said the party welcomed the project, and hoped it could happen as soon as possible.
“It’s a long-term project that will definitely need Sanral’s involvement.” — mamelag@dispatch.co.za
New road to bypass EL CBD
The development has been in the pipeline for nearly 20 years.
A feasibility study was completed in 2004, but the project was put on ice as BCM could not afford to implement it.
But now BCM has roped in South African National Road Agency Limited (Sanral) to rescue the dream, which is part of a larger plan to develop the West Bank at the same time as alleviating traffic congestion in the East London CBD.
The project is likely to create a substantial number of new jobs during the construction phases.
At a recent council meeting it was resolved that BCM’s acting city manager, Nceba Ncunyana, should “enter into a service level agreement with Sanral for the design and implementation of the East London bypass road known as the Buffalo River Bridge and Arterial Link between the N2 and the R72”.
Ncunyana said the metro had already paid R9-million to Sanral towards a new feasibility study as the existing one was old.
He said restarting the process of route identification meant the metro needed to consult and investigate if they could continue with the existing plan as the land had been invaded since the feasibility study was completed in 2004.
“The project is quiet, sophisticated and highly technical and we are looking at about 200 jobs,” he said.
“If we can deal with the feasibility study and designs and advertising in the next two years, in the third year we can start with the construction and that could take a minimum of two years for the construction period.
“The only thing that could take us a bit of time is acquiring the land if it’s owned privately but we don’t anticipate too much of that,” Ncunyana said.
The development is also designed to ease traffic flow between the CBD and East London Airport, as well as benefit hundreds of workers who travel between the West Bank area, Mdantsane, King William’s Town and Bhisho.
When first conceptualised in 1997, the project was estimated to cost more than R400-million.
Its success was said to depend “to a large extent on the support it receives from the East London public”. This was because already then hundreds of families would have had to move as the plans show the bypass running through a number of existing residential areas.
In a report before council last month Ncunyana said back in 1997 the Ninham Shand company was appointed by the East London Transitional Local Council to undertake a feasibility study and preliminary design.
“The feasibility report recommended construction of a new four-way link between the airport bypass and R72 by the year 2015,” he said.
Other recommendations include construction of a 375m bridge across the Buffalo River, an upgrade to Woolwash Road and a new 7.3km stretch of highway between the Ziphunzana bypass and the R72.
“The ultimate design is the construction of a dual carriageway from N2 to the airport bypass (R72) once the actual traffic is in line with the projected traffic in the medium-term so as to warrant the widening of the road to a dual carriageway,” the report states.
Although Sanral could not respond to Dispatch questions yesterday Ncunyana said: “The metro has revived the engagement with Sanral in order to get project back on track.
“ had a bilateral meeting with Sanral on February12.
“Sanral accepted the revival of the project and requested the municipality to send a written request taking into account that the municipality would be in charge of making the land available as previously agreed and procurement thereof.
“The municipality does not have funding to implement the project, hence it is proposed that the project be given to Sanral to implement.”
The cost of procuring the required land and possible removal of households, said Ncunyana, “would be known once the review of the route has been completed”.
Border-Kei Chamber of Commerce chairman Les Holbrook said the development was much needed, including by the East London IDZ.
He said: “It’s an old project that the chamber has lobbied for for years but the problem has been the expensive bridge proposed for the route.
“It’s a good thing BCM has finally gone to Sanral – it’s a positive development and it should not take more than three years to complete.”
DA councillor Jan Smit said the party welcomed the project, and hoped it could happen as soon as possible.
“It’s a long-term project that will definitely need Sanral’s involvement.” — mamelag@dispatch.co.za
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