Progress with roadworks

PLETTENBERG BAY NEWS - Western Cape Minister of Infrastructure Tertuis Simmers inspected roadworks currently being undertaken by his department near Plettenberg Bay on Tuesday 14 October.

Simmers was satisfied with the progress on a Western Cape Department of Infrastructure (DOI) contract to do periodic maintenance on four roads near Plettenberg Bay, including Piesang Valley Road, Trekkers Road, and the Airport road.

"Periodic maintenance is one of the key parts in our strategy to extend the design life of our transport infrastructure, offering road users good quality roads", said Jandré Bakker, department of infrastructure director for operational support.

"This R49.2m-project includes the pre-treatment of defects including patching and edge break repairs, resealing, and asphalt overlay works. A major slip repair is required on Piesang Valley Road which will necessitate a temporary road closure."

Work opportunities
Due to the specialised nature of the project, contractor participation opportunities are limited. The department appointed a social facilitator to brief the community and compile registers of jobseekers, the names of whom were then randomly drawn at public meetings.

Initially, about 40 short-term work opportunities were expected to be created by the project, but following scope additions, the number of short-term work opportunities is now expected to be 100.

Kranshoek sidewalk
Simmers said that, after consultation with Bitou Municipality, the need for a sidewalk along Trekkers Road toward Kranshoek was raised.

"The matter was investigated and approved because formally separating motorised and non-motorised transport is safer for pedestrians. The sidewalk will be constructed using labour-intensive cold asphalt technology, which involves mixing aggregate with a bitumen emulsion on site.

He said local labour will be trained in the use of this technology, which means that the community of Kranshoek will continue to benefit from having been trained after the project is complete.

Clearing of vegetation in the road reserve and patching are in progress. This will be followed by the application of texture slurry this month before the resealing work is completed in November. If everything goes according to plan, the project will be completed in December.

"Through projects like this, we are not only maintaining and improving infrastructure but also investing in people and communities. Our roads connect residents to opportunity, tourism, and trade - key drivers of our Growth For Jobs strategy. It is now up to all of us to make use of these assets responsibly so that they continue to serve this region and its people for generations to come," said Simmers.

Roadworks along Airport Road.