Road Infrastructure Development in Piketberg

The Department of Transport and Public Works is making good progress with a R352 million road rehabilitation project on the R399 between Piketberg and Velddrif. The 55 km road project started in November 2014 and is scheduled to be completed in June 2017. An impressive 18% of the contract has already been completed.

It is estimated that up to 1 900 vehicle use this road daily.

Three half-width construction sections (12 km in total) have been completed and are open to traffic. A further two half-width construction sections (8 km in total) are 90% complete, with final surfacing currently in progress. Earthworks and road layer works are currently in progress on another two half-width construction sections on the Piketberg side.

General Traffic Management and Delays

Four half-width construction sections of a maximum of 4 km managed by stop/go points will be in operation day and night. The speed limit through these sections is 60 km/h. The entire length of road will be open full-width to motorists during the December holiday period.

The maximum waiting period at each stop/go point is to 10 minutes. Motorists are advised to keep a safe following distance and adhere to the speed limit at all times.

Empowerment

A total of 30% of the 70 000 person-days of work for targeted labourers living in the Berg River Municipality have been completed. Contractor businesses in the Western Cape have been allocated 14% of the net contract amount, and R9 million of this allocation has already been spent.

More Piketberg Road Works

This month, the Department also started with the R45 million resealing of roads in the Aurora, Piketberg area. These roads were last resealed in 1998 and the work is scheduled for completion in July 2016. Construction works include surface repairs, the widening of parts of the Versveld Pass, and complete resurfacing. An impressive 10 000 person-days of work will be created for targeted labourers living in the Berg River Municipality, while 10% of the contract value will go towards contractor businesses in the Western Cape.