Cape Town – The R205 million revamp of the R317 road between Robertson and Bonnievale is set to provide about 85 short-term jobs for people in the Cape Winelands municipal area.
Department of Transport and Public Works spokesperson Byron La Hoe said safety will be improved with the widening of the Cogmanskloof Bridge and the 13km single carriageway.
La Hoe said the department is “committed to creating short-term Expanded Public Works Programme employment and skills training opportunities” and that up to R25m will be spent on targeted enterprises.
“We are looking at a total of 85 job opportunities on the project. The employment time frame will fall within this 20 months, but will be dependent on the job they are employed for,” he said.
Set to be completed by the middle of next year, the terms of the project contract states that a percentage of the work is “to be sub-contracted to targeted enterprises and also has a Contractor Development Programme component”.
Local companies will be able to tender for various works, La Hoe said.
The carriageway was built more than 40 years ago and the road has reached its operational capacity, he added.
Besides rebuilding, 5km of road through the centre of Bonnievale will be reconstructed and sewer and water services will be upgraded.
Stop and go controls will be set up and traffic lights will be installed at the bridge, while traffic control flag officials and road crew labourers will be employed.