Slurry application on the final seal at intersection km12.08 section 2 of the R410 between Lady Frere and Quiba in the Eastern Cape. The recent rehabilitation of degraded road surfaces will help to ensure road longevity and user safety.
The South African National Roads Agency (Sanral) on Monday announced the completion of its periodic maintenance project on the National Route R410 between Lady Frere and Quiba in the Eastern Cape. The 66.3km road maintenance project, which was valued at approximately R60 million involved the rehabilitation of degraded road surfaces. “Before the project began, existing roads in the area were showing signs of deterioration in the form of potholes, cracking and stone loss,” explains Mbulelo Peterson, Sanral Southern Region Manager. “There was also a need for improved signage and pedestrian safety measures. The periodic maintenance of the road has extended the lifespan of the road surface and will improve the safety of motorists, pedestrians and communities living along the road,” he notes.
Sealing and safety
Bathandwa Ndondo Senior Secondary School, located in Mnxe Village, Cala Town received the first prize of R1000 for their bus stop murals
Some of the major works on the project included a 3km asphalt overlay in Cala using an asphalt paver, a 40km long 14mm single seal, a 13.5km long 14/7mm double seal and a 7.2km long 7/14mm inverted seal.
The seals were constructed using the conventional construction method for constructing surface seals. Existing asphalt on bridge decks were milled and replaced and surface repairs with 40mm thick asphalt were also conducted.
“In addition to seals and overlays, existing fences and guardrails were repaired, new gabion boxes and mattresses were constructed, new road signs were installed and existing speed humps and rumble strips were replaced,” says Peterson.
Bus stop beautification
Peterson notes that the project included an element of community involvement with the aim of uplifting and inspiring ownership of the road within the community. The initiative saw the repair and beautification of 44 bus stops along the recently rehabilitated route with schools competing to paint the bus stops with their own designs. The three winning schools received prize money worth R2000. “The initiative assisted the community in taking ownership of the facilities they make use of on a daily basis, and will hopefully ensure that the bus stops are not vandalised in the future. The finished bus stops add to the aesthetic of the completed road and beautify the area through which this portion of the R410 runs,” Peterson concludes.