LOUIS TRICHARDT –

The first part of the upgrading project has already been put out on tender and is expected to be completed before the end of November.

The Marketing Manager of the South African National Roads Agency, Me Judith Annakie-Eriksen, said this week there are currently three proposed upgrading projects, two of which (for the section between Louis Trichardt and Masekwaspoort) have already been put out to tender. The contractors for these first two projects are being appointed. Invitations to tender for the third project (for the last twenty kilometres south of Messina) have not yet been advertised.

For the first two projects it is anticipated that road works will commence soon and will be completed by the end of November this year. The work will consist of a combination of activities, such as the addition of paved shoulders and climbing and passing lanes, pavement rehabilitation and safety improvements which may vary from section to section.

Me Annakie-Eriksen said a toll plaza will form part of the upgrading project . This is a necessary instrument for the financing of the upgrade. At this stage no consultant has yet been appointed and therefore it cannot yet be confirmed where the toll plaza is likely to be situated. She said investigations in terms of the EIA process will help determine and finalise the best location.

In the meantime at Messina and at Mopane it is widely speculated that the toll plaza will probably be erected in the vicinity of Bokmakierie, and just to the south of the turn-off to Tshipise. This could not be confirmed.

At Bokmakierie the Pietersburg construction company Hillary is already busy establishing a base office, laboratory and camp to handle its part of the upgrading project.