The upgrading of the National Road R336 between Kirkwood and Addo in the Eastern Cape Province bears testimony to the hard work that the South African National Roads Agency SOC Limited (SANRAL) has done to ensure that the country’s national road network fulfils its economic and social functions, said Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula during an oversight inspection of the R336 in Addo on Thursday.
The R336 is currently being upgraded by SANRAL, and local SMMEs and community members have been given job opportunities to work on the project.
“Significant investments in road infrastructure not only sustain economic activity but they also enable access to social infrastructure amenities. The role of infrastructure is critical in giving traction to our efforts to tackle the triple challenges of poverty, unemployment and inequality,” said Mbalula.
“The work being undertaken by SANRAL on this project is therefore critical in ensuring that we are able to maintain our road network in an acceptable state of repair.”
Construction on the R336 started in September this year and it is anticipated to be completed in June 2024. The first phase of the project entails the upgrading of 13.75km between Kirkwood and Addo, and the reseal of 1.75km of the existing road east of the town of Kirkwood. Road safety interventions, such as speed limits, pedestrian sidewalks, and traffic calming, also form part of the road’s upgrade.
“The existing pavement structure has reached the end of its design life and has deteriorated to a level of service which is inadequate to withstand the traffic loading. The Sundays River Bridge will also be widened on the left-hand side to accommodate a new pedestrian walkway,” added Mbalula.
Other key projects that SANRAL has in the Sundays River Valley Local Municipality, of which Kirkwood and Addo form part of, include the special maintenance of a section of the national road R335 and a section of the National Road R342 from Zuurberg Intersection to Nguni River Lodge; the special maintenance of another section of the R342 from Nguni River to Paterson; as well as the special maintenance of a section of the National Road R75 from Kirkwood Intersection to Wolwefontein.
The project will create job opportunities for an estimated 175 people. About 25 SMMEs will be appointed to work on the project. There are already 24 SMMEs on site.
Both Kirkwood and Addo are tourism hubs, and the main roads to both towns also link with the national roads and ports in Gqeberha.