ROAD UPGRADE IN KIRKWOOD UNDER WAY

BY PHUMLANI SAUL AND ZOLISA WILLIAMS

Transport minister launches first leg of project between Sunland and Kirkwood

A R275m road upgrade on the R336 between Addo and Kirkwood will be the first of a series of repairs between Sundays River Valley and Gqeberha to fix the busy citrus export route.

The repairs are part of R2bn set aside by Sanral and the national transport department to fix a network of roads between the city and provincial citrus hub.

On Wednesday, transport minister Fikile Mbalula was at the R336 between Sunland and Kirkwood to launch the first leg of the works which, when completed, will cover 13.75km.

Construction has already begun and will be completed in 24 months, with the rest of the network repaired over five years.

The R336 upgrade will also include safety features such as pedestrian pavements and traffic controls.

The Sundays River Bridge will also be widened to accommodate a new pedestrian walkway.

Mbalula told DK news “department through Sanral was taking over earmarked municipal and provincial roads to assist cash-strapped municipalities.

“Small towns and municipalities suffer from lack of revenue,” he said.

“This is a regional road, but through an MOU [memorandum of understanding] and the minister’s proclamation we have taken it over to help the province.

“The R336 is the main artery that leads into the main town and beyond.”

Mbulula said the Eastern Cape was the biggest beneficiary of the non-tolling roads of Sanral.

“There are no toll gates here but some of the roads [in the province], particularly on the N2, are in pristine condition because of our investment.

We have taken over the R61 which connects to the N2 going to KwaZulu-Natal.

“In five years, this work will be complete.”

He also said he was happy with the turnover of SMMEs hired for the R275m upgrade.

The reconstruction will also cover the R335 which connects to the R336, linking the vital citrus export route from the Sunday River Municipality.

Sanral project manager Thabiso Ngozwana said the repairs were essential in supporting the harbour-bound cargo.

“The most important thing about having good roads is to make sure the fruit does not get damaged during transportation.

“This area is the second-biggest employer after the automotive sector and it is, therefore, crucial that the necessary support is there,” Ngozwana said.

According to Ngozwana, the road repairs were divided into nine packages, which will cost R2bn.

Work has already begun on the R75 between Kirkwood and Kariega.

“Construction was also under way on the R342 but has been halted becomes the contractor had gone into business rescue,” he said.

Mbulala said there would be further work with Sanral to repair roads inside Kirkwood that had collapsed.

“When you pass through the town, you see they have collapsed.

“We will extend inside and redo the roads.”

According to Mbulala, no assistance was likely to come to Nelson Mandela Bay which had budgeted R30m for its potholes.

“Nelson Mandela Bay has a lot of challenges, from political leadership to coalitions.

“This has delayed the implementation of service delivery.

“Nelson Mandela Bay does not have revenue problems but mismanagement, they have some capacity unlike here.

“But we work with municipalities,” he said.

“We need to understand what are the challenges in terms of potholes and fixing the road.”