Upgrading of Airport Road in Southern Cape progressing well

Work on the Department of Transport and Public Works project to upgrade the gravel section of Airport Road between N2 and Kranshoek to a surfaced road is progressing well. This R76 million project started in October 2015 and is scheduled for completion in early 2017.

The road is currently closed to traffic, although local businesses and residents have had access. The project is progressing well and approximately half of the road has already been surfaced. The fill and layerworks for the remaining portion of the project are at an advanced stage.

All invasive alien vegetation has been removed from the road reserve and rehabilitation of the areas disturbed by construction has commence. Topsoiling and revegetation is under way. The newculvert to accommodate the Piesang River, which used to regularly flow over the old gravel road, has been completed. The contractor can be commended for producing work of a high standard.

In spite of delays due to rain and necessary additional work, the contractor is still on schedule. Some delays are inevitable. However, the Department designs and manages roadworks projects in such a way that inconvenience to road users is minimised.

At this stage, it is expected that the road will be open to public traffic by the start of the December holiday period. Access from Plettenberg Bay to the N2 via Airport Road will be improved once the project is complete.

Follow the Department on Twitter @WCGovTPW under the hashtag #roadworksWC.