Two major road upgrades are on the cards for Mpumalanga this year, and together they're estimated to cost more than R9 billion.
The South African National Roads Agency (Sanral) on Monday issued a statement indicating its road infrastructure plans for the projects, which are both still in the design stage.
The projects include the upgrading of the N2 between Ermelo in Mpumalanga and the border with KwaZulu-Natal. According to Sanral's operations maintenance manager in the northern region, Madoda Mthembu, it is estimated to cost more than R6 billion.
The N2 leads into the Eastern Cape and Western Cape. It connects Richards Bay in (KwaZulu-Natal) with Mkhondo and Ermelo. Heavy vehicles mainly use the road, travelling from Richards Bay to Southern African Development Community countries.
The second project includes the upgrading of the R40 between the Mpumalanga towns Hazyview and Bushbuckridge. It is estimated to cost more than R3 billion.
The road connects Mpumalanga's capital - the city of Mbombela, formerly Nelspruit, with Phalaborwa in Limpopo. "It is also highly utilised by tourists to the Kruger National Park and the surrounding tourist attractions," said Mthembe. These tourist attractions include God's Window.
"The R40 upgrade will help ease traffic congestion and travel times between Acornhoek, Bushbuckridge and Hazyview," he added.
Mthembe told a publication that the projects would be funded by budget allocations from National Treasury.
At this stage, Sanral cannot indicate the estimated jobs that would be created, but the project will have an impact on "reducing poverty and unemployment", Mthembe said.
The construction will take between 30 months to 36 months for each project, he added.
In a separate statement, Mthembu said that the road infrastructure in the province is mostly in a good condition, except for some areas affected by potholes caused by recent heavy rains. This is being addressed through routine road maintenance contractors, daily, he explained.
There are 10 routine road maintenance projects, and two more will be awarded before the end of March.
A special maintenance project is under way along the N17, running between Chrissiesmeer and the Msukaligwa and Chief Albert Luthuli local municipalities. These projects are expected to be completed in March next year.
There is also another upgrade project along the R573, between Kwaggafontein and Vlaklaagte, specifically within the Thembisile Hani Local Municipality. It is expected to be completed by 28 February 2024.
A few conventional projects will also be awarded in 2022, for part of the N11 near Hendrina Power Station to the N4 in Middleburg, as well as the N12 between Delmas and Ogies.
