R274m upgrade for Cape Flats roads

Cape Town-140429-Brett Heron inspected roads in Bontheuwel which were upgraded from a cement/stone mix to tar roads. In pic consultant engineer, Ulf Martz chats to Heron in Rooiels Road where construction is underway-Reporter-Nontando Mposo-Photographer-Tracey Adams

Cape Town-140429-Brett Heron inspected roads in Bontheuwel which were upgraded from a cement/stone mix to tar roads. In pic consultant engineer, Ulf Martz chats to Heron in Rooiels Road where construction is underway-Reporter-Nontando Mposo-Photographer-Tracey Adams

Published Apr 30, 2014

Share

Cape Town - Roads in Bonteheuwel have been getting a major overhaul as part of the City of Cape Town’s R8 million programme to provide the community with “safer, easier and more efficient roads”.

A further R21m will be pumped into the programme in the city’s current financial year (2014/15).

This is part of the city’s greater R274m plan to upgrade roads over the three years in areas such as Gugulethu, Manenberg, Heideveld and Bonteheuwel.

Mayoral committee member for transport for Cape Town Brett Herron went on a walkabout on Tuesday to examine the roadworks that started last May.

Herron explained that during apartheid most roads in poorer areas such as Bonteheuwel were made out of concrete which over the years had cracked and disintegrated.

“The condition of the roads was quite shocking before and some of the roads had no sidewalks and were unsafe for the community,” said Herron. “The people are excited because we are giving them dignified roadways.”

More than 1.6km covering Soetdoring, Sequoia, Rooihout, Rooi Els and Redberry roads are being upgraded. The work is scheduled to be completed shortly.

The roads have been resurfaced with asphalt, some have been widened to include pavements and pedestrian walkways, and proper drainage systems have been added.

Herron said flooding of roads was a major problem in Bonteheuwel because most roads did not have proper drainage systems.

About 46 000 people live in the area

“Approximately 35 workers from the city’s Expanded Public Works Programme have been employed during the upgrade of these roads in Bonteheuwel over the past 10 months, providing short-term work opportunities and skills training to those who need it most,” said Herron

“An extra benefit for the community is that they can use the skills they have acquired in this project for future employment opportunities.”

In Gugulethu, nearly 6km of concrete roads have been upgraded since mid-2012.

The upgrading of a further 13.6km will start in the next few weeks.

More than 10km of concrete roads will be upgraded within the next few months in Manenberg

In Heideveld the upgrading of 2.7km of concrete roads is due for completion in October, and in Hanover Park the tender process for the upgrading of more than 3km of concrete roads is under way.

Cost of road work

The budget allocation for the concrete roads projects is as follows:

* In the 2013/14 financial year, R102 million is being spent in Gugulethu, Manenberg, Heideveld and Bonteheuwel.

* In the 2014/15 financial year, R107m will be spent in Gugulethu, Manenberg, Bonteheuwel, Hanover Park and Heideveld.

* In the 2015/16 financial year, a further R65m will be spent largely in Gugulethu, Hanover Park, Bonteheuwel, Manenberg, Parkwood and Retreat.

[email protected]

Cape Argus

Related Topics: