The R573 Moloto Road connecting the three provinces of Gauteng, Mpumalanga and Limpopo is about to undergo a five year upgrade. This route is one of South Africa’s busiest, essential economic routes and is used by approximately 50,000 car, bus, taxi and truck commuters every day. The South African National Roads Agency (Sanral) will be overseeing the construction of this project and said this route will not be tolled. The project has been identified as one of the country’s 18 strategic infrastructure projects (SIPs). It is predicted that it will create about 12,500 jobs. Sanral said the project has been designed to unlock the northern mineral belt within the Waterberg area and will include the development of a logistics corridor to connect the three provinces. Transport minister Joe Maswanganyi said that in addition to boosting the Waterberg mineral belt, the project will also boost local economies along the Moloto Road.
Procurement
Regarding project construction, Sanral has already appointed two construction companies to carry out upgrades in Limpopo and Mpumalanga, however Gauteng is yet to appoint a company on its side. Currently 20% of the contract is being set aside for local small, medium and micro enterprises (SMMEs). Sanral said the selected SMMEs will be procured during the construction period. Part of the contract between Sanral and the project’s main contractors is that there will be training provided to everyone recruited and it will be in line with government policy. Sanral also said that in co-operation with local municipalities and traditional leaders, safe designated areas will be identified for informal traders who are located along the corridor. To keep pedestrians safe, safe crossing points will be constructed along the roads. Roads provide access to jobs, education, and healthcare facilities, Sanral said in a statement, and added that its engineers are committed to ensuring its roads are of the highest standard.
Rail
The Moloto Development Corridor will also include investing in passenger rail services to provide commuters with a safer, faster and more accessible connection between these three provinces. “A rail system will form the backbone of both the public transport system and the corridor development process,” Sanral said. Sanral added that rail stations and transfer facilities will become the centre points for nodal developments, and that all commuting and non-commuting citizens will have access to facilities around the station. “The aim is that commuters must support local trade to uplift the local economy,” Maswanganyi said. He also indicated that the rail corridor will facilitate the creation of new local services and employment opportunities. “The aim is also to reduce the relative number of people that will travel long distances for work and other purposes because this development will create an opportunity for a higher percentage of people that will find employment locally,” he said. The proposed rail service will provide:
- 13 new train stations
- 125km of double-track
- 38 roads over all rail bridges
- 9 pedestrian bridges, with the potential for more
- 44 river crossings
- 3 staging yards in the corridor
- 12 car train sets
- 46 train sets
- Capacity to transport 15,000 passengers/hour
- 1 major multi-modal interchange
- 160km/h operational design
The rail services will comprise feeder services and distribution, which will be complemented by 49 bus and taxi routes with 681 buses and taxi stops. Maswanganyi said the transport department has concluded a review and assessment of the Putco Moloto contract, which included a detailed census to determine current demand. The review proposed a new contract be introduced to replace the current one based on the outcome of the passenger census and the current demand. Maswanganyi said the contracting authority will start to prepare for the implementation of a completely redesigned contract, which will be introduced as a medium to long-term solution. He added that the unbundling of the current contract will allow new entrants to participate and share in the new proposed contract.
