Infrastructure development
Twenty-five roads in North West have been declared national roads. According to Premier Thandi Modise the South African National Road Agency Limited (SANRAL) will now start reconstructing the provincial road network covering some 1 350 km.
“Road construction projects are part of the Strategic Infrastructure Project (SIP4) to accelerate infrastructure investment and improve economic potential, the development of mining, agricultural activities and tourism, and to benefit the province,” she said.
SANRAL recently reported that it was implementing eight road maintenance projects across the province, involving road repair and resealing.
The R970 million road-repair projects include the Bloemhof to Rietpan, Delareyville to Sannieshof and the Ventersdorp to Krugersdorp roads, which are almost complete.
Over R1 billion was set aside for the SANRAL-Bakwena Toll projects on the N4 to construct an additional carriageway covering 32 km between Brits and Marikana. This also covers the construction of 22 km between Zeerust and Rustenburg, the rehabilitation of the N4 between Brits, Marikana and Swartruggens including periodic and routine maintenance.
Meanwhile the North West Department of Public Works, Roads and Transport held two district road summits. At these summits, MEC Raymond Elisha announced that his department has collaborated with SANRAL to expand the number of roads in the province from 10 to 27.
“We decided to meet with stakeholders and inform them about the five-year plan, stating which roads will receive attention within their district,” MEC Elisha.
“The message of these summits is that as government, we can no longer plan alone. We need to plan for the current financial year and reprioritise roads,” the MEC told the delegates at the summits.
“We will make declarations at these summits, which will bind the department to implement resolutions. This will ensure that communities hold the department account- able when roads projects are not implemented and will remain the department’s mandate,” concluded Elisha.
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