MAHIKENG MAIL - MAHIKENG: The Department of Public Works and Roads has embarked on a major road upliftment programme earmarked to bolster free and safe traffic flow and job creation opportunities for Mahikeng locals.
The project, which commenced last week to the tune of R68.8 million, has created 27 jobs and will be completed in September this year.
The project entails special maintenance of different treatment methods to improve the dilapidated road conditions in the North West capital, according to the Department’s HOD, Moss Kgantsi. MEC Sempe Elizabeth Mokua, accompanied by Kgantsi, Mahikeng Mayor Cllr Tshepiso Mphehlo, engineers, contractors and the department’s officials, staged an impromptu walk-about at Quigley Street where road construction engines were hard at work and conceded that the implementation of the project was a demonstration that the department had it’s hands on deck.
Explaining the scope of work, Kgantsi said the project involved the rehabilitation of D424 and Visser Streets in and around Golfview. The focus is also to do maintenance work on roads such as Dardford, North and Proctor, where conditions exponentially deteriorated when they were utilised as detours during the construction of Phase 1 of Nelson Mandela Drive last year.
The major works on Road D424, will commence from Lopsnel carwash in Lonely Park, passing next to Embassy Road and past Golfview up to the Road R49 intersection. On Visser Street, the major works will commence from the three-way intersection in front of Rowlands Estate to Nelson Mandela intersection.
The scope will also include construction of walkways for pedestrians at various sections and introduction of traffic roundabout at the Rowlands Estate intersection, to be converted into a circle.
There will also be refurbishing of day lighting blocked channels and existing storm water inlets which caused water-ponding whenever rain fell in excess of 100 litres per second, in an effort to stop and channel water back to Molopo River.
Also, the Department will be repairing and resurfacing various roads that have been identified as traffic accommodation detours during construction.
“People have been angry and we need to keep them informed about our mandate to reduce attacks on us. I appreciate this quick intervention to fix our roads, which means we are now taking on board people’s comments, in order to avoid backlash.
“We need to do everything in a reasonable time frame. I don’t want any occurrences that will stop the project. If people have issues they must come to our offices where we shall resolve those issues and give the project our undivided support,” said Mokua.
Adding his voice, Cllr Mphehlo remarked: “We appreciate the timing of the project as we are faced with storm water and pothole challenges. To sustain the lifespan of our roads we need to work collectively.
“We want Mahikeng to experience infrastructural upliftment like other cities such as Mbombela, among others. Although many complaints are manufactured, some come because people are frustrated - but we want to emphasise that all citizens must pay for municipal services to enable us to render services they deserve,” added the Mayor.
The public is encouraged to check for regular updates on road closures on the Department’s official social media pages.
