Construction on Africa’s first eco-friendly road, incorporating recycled waste plastic has started in Jeffreys Bay this week.

Kouga Executive Mayor Horatio Hendricks said Woltemade and Koraal Streets had been identified for the pilot project.

“The testing of the plastic product to be used in the premix was recently finalised. It is this product, developed by a Scottish company called MacRebur, that is set to revolutionise the way roads are built,” he said.

Hendricks said the testing of the product had taken longer than anticipated as it was the first time it would be used in South Africa and the continent of Africa.

“We are excited that work on the road has commenced. The contractor will be establishing the site this week and we expect construction to start in Woltemade Street next week.”

The completion date is set for mid-October.

The ground-breaking initiative is a joint project by Kouga Municipality and MacRebur SA, together with Port Elizabeth-based civil engineering and construction experts SP Excel and Scribante Construction.