JG Afrika (Pty) Ltd oversaw the upgrade of a 48 km section of the N2 highway between Caledon and Riviersonderend, within the Theewaterskloof Local Municipality of the Western Cape.
The road serves as a vital link between the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal, and about 3 500 motor vehicles and 500 trucks use this economic and tourist route every day to travel between Cape Town and the many cities along the south and eastern coastlines.
The project harnesses JG Afrika’s extensive experience in pavement engineering. Over the years, we have been extensively involved in aviation, concrete, exceptional heavy and flexible pavements. This is in addition to pavement-management systems, railway formations, road materials investigations, materials sourcing and utilisation, as well as road rehabilitation investigations and designs.
Most of the work scope entailed widening the road, as well as upgrading its intersections to better accommodate the increase in traffic over the years and raise safety levels for road users.
The completed road will have a minimum surface width of 13,4 m, including two 3,7 m-wide lanes and three metre-wide shoulders, in areas. Where there are existing climbing lanes, the road is being widened to allow for 3,7 m-wide passing and 3,7 m-wide climbing lanes, as well as a 1,5 m-wide surfaced shoulder. Some of the existing climbing lanes are being extended and we are constructing new climbing lanes.
In addition, the work scope includes repairing the existing road, as well as widening of Droogas River Bridge and Maandagsout River Bridge and lengthening 14 major culverts along the route.
Moreover, the project is being used as a fertile training ground for many local small, medium and micro enterprises (SMMEs) in line with the South African National Road Agency Limited’s (SANRAL) “Fourteen Point Plan.” It emphasises the critical role that road construction projects can play in assisting government grow a vibrant emerging contracting industry in the country.