Bakwena Platinum Corridor Concessionaire (Pty) Ltd (Bakwena) confirms that the upgrades along the N4 Bakwena route are on track.
Continuous maintenance, rehabilitation and upgrades are necessary to ensure the N1N4 route meets the highest international standards for toll road paying motorists. The current upgrades include the addition of a 32km of a second carriageway on the N4 between the M17 and R512 (Brits Interchange). Part of this upgrade also includes additions and extensions to 5 existing bridges which cross the section of the N4 being dualled. Recent developments include the dualling of the N4 bridge which crosses the Crocodile River. This bridge has 5 spans, each consisting of 10 precast reinforced concrete beams. Each beam weights 26 tons and is individually transported via a process which involved a horse truck on the one side and a steering trailor where a crane lifts each individual beam onto the bridge piers structure for it to be secured.The expected completion time for the dualling of the bridge is end of March 2020.
According to Bakwena, the upgrades along the Bakwena route are progressing well. Bakwena’s commercial manager, Solomon Kganyago, says that the project cost of the current N4 upgrade is R582 million with a 36-month construction period that is scheduled to be completed in June 2021. The addition of the carriageway will enhance motorists’ driving experience and improve their overall safety on the route, concludes Kganyago. Bakwena would like to thank motorists for their patience while work is being carried out on the N1N4 routes and advises them to adhere to all designated road signs and exercise caution throughout the construction processes.