Angry road users will have to wait until April 2021 before N2 roadworks are completed

09-07-2020
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North Coast Courier
Source

Frustrated motorists will have to continue using a single lane on two sections of the N2 between Ballito and Stanger as the completion date for the project has been pushed back to April 30 next year.

Work began in February 2016, scheduled to be completed early 2017.

After two years the R57.4 million project ground to a halt when the main contractor, Nyoni Projects, failed to source materials as specified in the contract.

The contract was terminated when the contractor filed for business rescue, and was sequestrated.

Nyoni Projects had completed less than a third of the original contract, receiving R15.5 million from the South African National Roads Agency (Sanral).

North Coast road users are angry at the repeated failures to complete the road repairs at the Umhlali and Umvoti river bridges, where sharp curves were to be flattened to reduce the number of crashes.

Sanral’s east region manager, Ridwaan Mahomed denied responsibility for the delays.

“It was never Sanral’s intention for this work to be delayed for such a prolonged period. After the contract was terminated with the original contractor, Sanral tried for months to resolve the way forward with national treasury for appointing a new contractor as well as ensuring continuity regarding technical supervision,” said Mahomed.

They were told to re-tender and could not appoint the tenderer with the second highest points, which was Sanral’s initial recommendation.

The tender was awarded at the end of last year to JSE-listed construction group Raubex.

The contract administration was to be undertaken by Naidu Consulting Engineers.

Sanral announced late last year that contractors would be on site by the first quarter of 2020 once the contractor finalised initial appointments of small to medium enterprises (SMEEs).

“Due to Covid-19 lockdown restrictions, these timelines have necessarily been delayed,” said Mahomed.

“Work will be undertaken to complete the outstanding work on the northbound carriageway, thereafter proceeding to the southbound carriageway.”