National route 9 section 7 (N9/7) has been rehabilitated for free flowing traffic
On Saturday 26 April 2014, the Minister of Transport Ms Dipuo Peters officially opened the rehabilitated N9/7 from Wolwefontein to Colesberg. This included the new N1/N9 interchange at Colesberg, in the Northern Cape, which will greatly improve traffic movement and safety at the junction of the N1 and N9 routes at Colesberg.
The launch forms part of government's key national roll-out of infrastructure delivery which has a high economic influence and relevance. The N1 is an important national route linking Johannesburg and Cape Town and the N9 is a main link to Port Elizabeth's vehicle assembly plants and Coega harbour.
The South African National Roads Agency SOC Limited (Sanral), with the assistance of the local municipality, appointed service providers who worked on the safety improvements, building of the bridges and widening of structures.
The scope of the project comprises construction of major earthworks in widening of the existing road prism, vertical realignment of the road at a railway crossing, extension of culverts and construction of new culverts as well as ancillary works such as accommodation of traffic, road markings, road signs, guardrails and erosion protection.
"Widening of the N9 was important as an added safety feature. The at-grade intersection of N1/N9 and at-grade crossing on the N1 at Colesberg were potential conflict points where high traffic volumes made access and egress from Colesberg difficult and unsafe. Pedestrian safety was also taken into consideration with construction of pedestrian facilities;" said Nelis Brink, Project Manager.
The construction works for the new grade separated interchange at Colesberg include the rehabilitation and widening of the current N1 carriageway to provide a 3,7m wide lane and a 2,5m wide surfaced shoulder in each direction. Five new 8,0m wide ramps were constructed to provide access and mobility in the interchange while two new 12,4m wide two lane access roads were constructed over two new bridges over the N1. The existing pavement is reconstructed and strengthened by in situ recycling the existing base into a new cement-stabilised subbase with addition of new subbase material and the construction of a new crushed stone base layer. New pavement layers are constructed for widening of the road prism. The new surfacing constructed consists of a 19mm Cape Seal.
The project took 36 months to complete at an estimated cost of R407.6 million. Number of jobs created varied from month to month, with the average 78% being local individuals. A group of around 221 people were trained at a cost of R288 852. The average number of full time employment totalled approximately 408 per month at a cost of R59.68 million and 14 SMMEs were employed during the construction period at a cost of R62.12 million.
"We always try to empower the communities where we operate. The skills training they received from the service providers will stay with them for the rest of their lives. The small businesses that were contracted were also able to raise their profiles having worked on this project more galleries," concluded Brink.
For queries kindly contact [email protected]