Department appoints new contractor to complete unfinished R511 project
FOURWAYS – The construction project that was supposed to have been completed years ago will commence soon.
After a long battle between Gauteng Department of Roads and Transport and a contractor that was tasked to build the R511 road, a new contractor has finally been appointed to complete the project.
The R511 connects Fourways and Diepsloot.
Spokesperson for the department, Theo Nkonki, said the construction project that was supposed to have been completed years ago would commence soon. “Indeed, a contractor has been appointed,” Nkonki said.
“We are now in the process of concluding administrative processes that are part of the appointment. Up until such processes are concluded, we are unfortunately unable to provide the details of the contractor.”
Nkoki said the department had been embroiled in a long court battle with the previous contractor. The battle started when the department terminated the services of the contractor due to poor performance and failure to deliver as expected. “This court issue has led to unnecessary delays to the construction project of R511 which is used by thousands of people daily.”
Ward 96 councillor Sbusiso Mthembu said the road construction project would create much-needed job opportunities for dozens of unemployed people in wards 94, 95, 96 and 113.
“We have already appointed three people who will work as community liaison officers [CLOs] in the wards. They are currently busy with the induction of the CLOs and will shortly start recruiting local labourers,” Mthembu said.
