Update: N2 Wild Coast project proceeds

AFTER 15 years of controversy and stop-go progress, South African National Road Agency Limited (Sanral) appears to be ignoring unresolved legal issues and pushing ahead with the N2 Wild Coast Toll road project.

With the disputed KwaZulu-Natal section of the project having fallen away, the revised, 410km route runs from East London to the Mtamvuna River Bridge.

Recently, Sanral announced that it had issued tenders to six pre-qualified bidders for each of the mega-bridges, over the Mtentu and Msikaba River gorges that are to be part of the greenfield section of the N2 Wild Coast Road project. The cost of building these bridges will be about R3,5-billion and their construction should begin early next year. Construction of roads to the bridge sites will, however, start this September.

The greenfields portion of the road will be a 112km stretch between Ndwalane outside Port St Johns and the Mtamvuna River between Mzamba and Port Edward. As well as the two mega-bridges it will include seven other major bridges, three interchange bridges and new roads. Construction on the greenfields portion of the road should start in the second half of 2018. Sanral will issue tender notices later this year for the appointment of consulting engineering service providers for this work.

Last week Sanral chief executive Nazir Alli and his team spent much of the time in the Eastern Cape, doing outreaches, talking to stakeholders and holding ministerial consultation meetings for the project.

On the Wednesday and Thursday pre-qualified bidders for the mega-bridges were taken on a site visit to the Mtentu and Msikaba River gorges as part of preparation for the submission of their bids. Sanral will make an appointment towards the end of this year.

Owners of small, medium and emerging business from the area had a chance to engage with Sanral and support agencies last week to hear about opportunities that could open up for them before, during and after construction of the toll road. They were informed about the programmes and commercial products available to assist them.

The busy week ended with a ministerial event and fly-over of the project area on the Saturday.

This gave Eastern Pondoland King Zanozuko Sigcau and King Ndamase Ndamase of Western Pondoland an aerial perspective of the road and was part of Sanral’s outreaches to traditional leadership in the region. The event was hosted and attended by Mr Alli, Minister of Transport Dipuo Peters, and the Eastern Cape Department of Roads and Public Works MEC Thandiswa Marawu.

Speaking to the media, King Sigcau said good infrastructure would bring job and business opportunities, and would make Pondoland accessible to South Africa and the world. This would stimulate tourism, and marine-related industries. King Ndamase stressed the fact that the project was much needed.

There have been many outspoken opponents of the project including members of the Amadiba Crisis Committee who are concerned that the road is linked to the Xolobeni dune mining proposal, against which they are fighting. Residents of the area through which the road will be built fear being displaced and conservation organisations are opposed to the fact that the bridges and the greenfields section road will be built in the environmentally sensitive Pondoland Centre of Endemism, part of a global floral hotspot. However, King Ndamase dismissed fears that the project could cause divisions in communities.

HAVE YOUR SAY 

Like our Facebook page, follow us on Twitter and Instagram

For news straight to your phone, add us on BBM 58F3D7A7 or WhatsApp 082 421 6033