The R93 million special maintenance project on the R75 from Wolwefontein to Jansenville Phase 2 in the Sarah Baartman District Municipality has been completed.

Route R75 is one of the major National Roads within the Eastern Cape that links the coastline with its hinterland. Twenty-two sub-contractors were engaged, and 300 local laborers worked on the project.

The project was completed on 16 August 2021.

SANRAL Southern Region Regional Manager, Mbulelo Peterson says SANRAL is committed to developing small, medium, and micro enterprises (SMMEs) on road construction projects. The scope of work included gravel shoulder construction, in situ recycling sections with emulsion treated base, and 10mm Cape Seal to protect the recycled base.

The pre-treatment included rejuvenator fog spray, 50/70 continuously graded base patches with BTB, 50/70 continuously medium graded surface patches, ETB edge break repairs, and texture slurry. Additional work on the project included the new concrete edge beams, subsoil drain cleaning and replacement, building new gabions, erecting new guardrails and fencing, 14mm and 7mm double seal, and retroreflective road marking.

“The upgraded road will reduce commuting time between destinations and there will be road safety improvement for motorists and pedestrians,” said Peterson.

In addition to the special maintenance work on the road, SANRAL implemented some community development projects.

The work also included the repair and reseal of the road leading to the Jansenville hospital, the rehabilitation of a landfill site and the erection of a fence and signage to the dumpsite.