Minister Carlisle Officially Opens Upgraded Road in Pniel | Western Cape Government

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Minister Carlisle Officially Opens Upgraded Road in Pniel

7 December 2010

Minister Robin Carlisle today officially opened the upgraded road from Helshoogte Pass to Boschendal. This is the 12th roads infrastructure capital project successfully completed by the Department of Transport and Public Works in 2010. The project cost the department eight million rand (R80m).

Main Road 172 (Route R310) forms the principal major route from Stellenbosch through Helshoogte Pass to the R45 route to Franschoek and the Paarl Winelands. Prior to the upgrading of the section from Helshoogte to Boschendal under this project, started in January 2009 and completed this December, the existing road was very narrow with gravel shoulders.

Minister Carlisle is pleased that the department has managed to complete all major roads infrastructure projects due this year.

The completion of this project marks the end of a successful year for the road infrastructure division of the department. Maintaining our existing roads well to ensure their sustainability is one of our major priorities and I'm gratified that all our major roads upgrade projects were completed successfully during the year. Well-maintained roads are the lifeblood of our economy, and without them, there can be no meaningful economic development.

The upgrade of the road included various improvements such as an increased road width, specially coloured road shoulders, raised pedestrian crossings, paved sidewalks, bus and taxi bays, improved drainage, road signs, road markings, and street lighting, as well as features such as the construction of werf walls and tree planting, all undertaken whilst the road continued to be used by the travelling public.

All of these will result in improved traffic mobility, safe pedestrian movement, and enhanced aesthetic appearance through the rural built up environment of Johannesdal and Pniel.

The project also provided construction work and training opportunities for unemployed people from the local community with a total of one hundred and thirty-six (136) job opportunities for local residents. Small, Medium and Micro Enterprises (SMMEs) and Black Economic Empowerment (BEE) contractors were also used in the project to good effect.

Media Enquiries: 

Solly Malatsi
Media Liaison Officer
Ministry of Transport and Public Works
Western Cape Provincial Government
Tel: 021 483 8954
Cell: 083 641 9691