The South African National Roads Agency Limited (Sanral) has a number of multibillion- rand projects in the pipeline in its Western Region, which includes the Western and Northern Cape provinces.

On a project-by-project basis, Western Region regional manager Randall Cable says a 12 km upgrade to the N2 in Cape Town between the Swartklip and Baden Powell interchanges is currently under design.

The project entails upgrading the highway from a four-lane to a six-lane or eight-lane freeway, upgrades to four interchanges, as well as improving pedestrian safety infrastructure.

A 6 km portion of the N2 must also be raised, owing to increased water levels.

The project is estimated to cost R2-billion, and the tender is to be advertised in November.

On the N2 Garden Route, upgrades and improvements from Kraaibosch to Touws River in Wilderness are currently under construction, with more works planned in Phase 2 between Touws River and Die Vleie.

The combined estimated value of Phase 1 and Phase 2 of the N2 Wilderness upgrades is more than R1.5-billion.

The detailed design for the 13 km upgrade to the N1 from Cape Town’s Old Oak to Koelenhof interchanges has been completed, with the project estimated to cost more than R3-billion.

The project entails upgrading the freeway from four lanes to six lanes or eight lanes, and improvements to five interchanges, as well as to pedestrian safety infrastructure.

Sanral says it is in the final stages of preparations to take this project to market.

As for the 36-year-old Huguenot Tunnel on the N1, the roads agency says it has made improvements to the existing tunnel (south bore) in the last 24 months, which include upgrades to the tunnel lighting, ventilation and fire detection systems.

“The upgrade of the second tunnel (north bore) is overdue, and the final detailed design has recently been completed,” says Sanral.

Sanral says it is preparing to “go to market shortly” on this five-year construction contract.

The project will cost roughly R4-billion to complete.

The north bore tunnel was excavated at around the same time as the south bore tunnel. However, the north bore tunnel is currently only being used as an emergency escape for the south bore tunnel.