Roads agency the South African National Roads Agency Limited (Sanral) will continue to increase road construction and maintenance across South Africa. These efforts comprise numerous projects including improvements made to the Huguenot Tunnel located on the N1 in the Western Cape.

“We are heeding [President Cyril Ramaphosa’s] call for infrastructure development to drive economic growth and recovery,” Sanral CEO Reginald Demana says.

Sanral has invested significantly in road safety and operational upgrades at the Huguenot Tunnel, particularly geared for smarter mobility. Plans are currently in design to commission a second tunnel, adjacent to the current one, to align the tunnel with international standards.

The improvements are estimated at about R4-billion. This will generate significant economic opportunities and job creation.

“We are finalising the design of this project and hope to go out on tender for construction early in 2024,” says Demana.

“For the R333-million operations and maintenance contract, including improvements to the tunnel, the subcontracting value equates to R101-million. The project is just more than two years into its six-year term and the contract is well on its way to meet and exceed its transformation objectives,” says Sanral regional manager Randall Cable.

Travelling through the tunnel as opposed to using Du Toit’s Kloof Pass saves 26 minutes for a heavy vehicle and 15 minutes for a light vehicle. The estimated fuel saved is 5.5-million barrels of crude oil, saving fossil fuel reserves and minimising pollution.

Chikunga says South Africa’s road, rail, airport and maritime infrastructure is the heartbeat of the country’s economy.

She spoke at the Huguenot Tunnel where she inspected Sanral’s infrastructure as well as progress on the R600-million upgrade of the N7 between Malmesbury and Moorreesburg, in the Western Cape.

She

also recently viewed the multibillion-rand N2-N3 construction in KwaZulu-Natal, as well as the Msikaba bridge which, when complete, will be the longest cable-stayed bridge in Africa.

“These are examples of engineering excellence, and I am immensely proud of what Sanral is doing,” says Chikunga.