Road Users Cautioned to be Patient as Construction on Koeberg Interchange Starts

The Head of the Western Cape Department of Transport and Public Works, Thami Manyathi, says the majority of construction will start after the end of the evening rush hour and will continue until just before the start of the morning rush hour. He said construction would also take place during weekends.

According to him, the purpose of the evening and weekend construction is to minimise disruptions to an already congested traffic flow. However, Manyathi says some road works will have to be done at daytime during weekdays because of necessity.

He said at such times limited traffic delays could be experienced.

"As department, we want to apologise for inconveniences. We urge motorists to be patient and extra cautious when traveling that stretch of road, especially now that winter is upon us," Mr. Manyathi said.

The 24 month project is expected to ease traffic flow congestion into 2010 and beyond. A joint venture between civil engineering companies Group Five and Power Construction was awarded the tender.

A number of targets that will benefit Historically Disadvantaged Individuals have been set in the tender contract. Some of those targets include benefits for subcontractors amounting to R100 million.

Of that amount, 10 percent or R10 million must benefit women in construction. In addition, 500 hourly-paid workers will be sourced from the poorest areas near the project.

Close to R150 million of all procurement will have to be sourced from local black suppliers.

One of the major feats of the project will be realigning the canal that forms part of the Black River, running adjacent to the interchange. The canal will be shifted several metres to make provision for the expansion of the road.

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