The Eastern Cape department of roads and public works says its road-building programme is progressing well, but it has warned motorists to be aware of roadworks and allow for additional travelling time over the festive season.
The department, together with the South African National Roads Agency Limited (Sanral), is engaged in a number of road-building projects in the province that may affect holiday traffic.
But the good news is that this festive season may be the end of holiday deviations on a number of roads because those projects are scheduled for completion next year.
Some R3.5-billion is being spent on road construction in the Eastern Cape and the department has urged road users to be cautious and exercise patience when travelling on roads in the province.
There will be no closures or construction work on the roads between December 15 and January 4 although, on some roads, existing stop/go closures will be maintained over the festive season to facilitate smooth traffic flows, said roads and public works MEC Thandiswa Marawu.
The bulk of these roadworks are slated for completion between April and November next year, just in time for the 2016 festive season.
The biggest roadworks project is the R61 between Mzamba and Magusheni in Mbizana, which is being upgraded at a cost of R942-million.
Road users can expect to encounter delays on the road during the festive season.
Other roads in the province affected over the festive season as a result of construction by the department are:
lCentane to Qholorha – this includes access to Trennery hotel and Kei Mouth (DR18045); Mount Coke and Buffalo Pass to Winterstrand (R72).
Roads being built by Sanral include:
lWild Coast Meander, from Tombo to Isilimela Hospital (DR08029); Tsitsikamma to Port Elizabeth (R62); Port Elizabeth to Colchester (R75); national route N9 from Western Cape border to Carlton Heights; from WC border to Aberdeen on the R61; Nanaga to Middelburg (N10).
Roadworks may also be encountered between East London and Mthatha, from Mthatha to Brooks Nek, East London to Aliwal North, Nieu-Bethesda to Queenstown, Middleburg to Indwe, Adelaide to Komga, and Grahamstown to Fort Beaufort.
Marawu promised that most of the roads will be completed by December 2016.
“This is the only year in which motorists and visitors will be affected. However, this does not mean we will stop with constructing of our provincial roads ,” Marawu said.
According to the department, “every effort will be made this festive season to ensure that all temporary road signs, flagmen and women, cones and speed controls are maintained and effective, and that workers are courteous at all times”.
“I want to caution all road users to add an hour or two when they travel to the Eastern Cape, as they might experience delays. We are making this call to ensure that people don’t speed and that they obey all road laws,” Marawu said, adding: “Drivers should be patient with each other.”
“The Eastern Cape government is again appealing to all road users, including pedestrians, to be vigilant and exercise caution on the roads. The country cannot afford more deaths caused by road accidents than it has already experienced.”
Expect road delays in province for season
The department, together with the South African National Roads Agency Limited (Sanral), is engaged in a number of road-building projects in the province that may affect holiday traffic.
But the good news is that this festive season may be the end of holiday deviations on a number of roads because those projects are scheduled for completion next year.
Some R3.5-billion is being spent on road construction in the Eastern Cape and the department has urged road users to be cautious and exercise patience when travelling on roads in the province.
There will be no closures or construction work on the roads between December 15 and January 4 although, on some roads, existing stop/go closures will be maintained over the festive season to facilitate smooth traffic flows, said roads and public works MEC Thandiswa Marawu.
The bulk of these roadworks are slated for completion between April and November next year, just in time for the 2016 festive season.
The biggest roadworks project is the R61 between Mzamba and Magusheni in Mbizana, which is being upgraded at a cost of R942-million.
Road users can expect to encounter delays on the road during the festive season.
Other roads in the province affected over the festive season as a result of construction by the department are:
lCentane to Qholorha – this includes access to Trennery hotel and Kei Mouth (DR18045); Mount Coke and Buffalo Pass to Winterstrand (R72).
Roads being built by Sanral include:
lWild Coast Meander, from Tombo to Isilimela Hospital (DR08029); Tsitsikamma to Port Elizabeth (R62); Port Elizabeth to Colchester (R75); national route N9 from Western Cape border to Carlton Heights; from WC border to Aberdeen on the R61; Nanaga to Middelburg (N10).
Roadworks may also be encountered between East London and Mthatha, from Mthatha to Brooks Nek, East London to Aliwal North, Nieu-Bethesda to Queenstown, Middleburg to Indwe, Adelaide to Komga, and Grahamstown to Fort Beaufort.
Marawu promised that most of the roads will be completed by December 2016.
“This is the only year in which motorists and visitors will be affected. However, this does not mean we will stop with constructing of our provincial roads ,” Marawu said.
According to the department, “every effort will be made this festive season to ensure that all temporary road signs, flagmen and women, cones and speed controls are maintained and effective, and that workers are courteous at all times”.
“I want to caution all road users to add an hour or two when they travel to the Eastern Cape, as they might experience delays. We are making this call to ensure that people don’t speed and that they obey all road laws,” Marawu said, adding: “Drivers should be patient with each other.”
“The Eastern Cape government is again appealing to all road users, including pedestrians, to be vigilant and exercise caution on the roads. The country cannot afford more deaths caused by road accidents than it has already experienced.”
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