National Transport Minister to visit WC transport infrastructure projects

Minister Maswanganyi inspects progress on million rands worth of transport infrastructure projects in Western Cape

The Minister of Transport, Mr Joe Maswanganyi, MP together with the Member of the Executive Council (MEC) responsible for Transport and Public Works in the Western Cape Province, Mr Donald Grant, will undertake a site inspection to monitor progress on a R487 million road infrastructure upgrade and development project on the N1 between Plattekloof Road and the Old Oak Interchange.

Approximately 120 000 vehicles travel along this stretch during the morning inbound and afternoon outbound peaks with the addition of an extra lane on both sides of the freeway expected to significantly reduce congestion and travel time.

If everything goes according to plan, the project will be complete in April 2019.

The work, being implemented in phases, includes the upgrades of additional lanes on both sides of the freeway, new auxiliary lanes, extensions of the existing concrete median barrier, intersection improvements along the affected stretch, the demolition and reconstruction of the Old Oak West Bridge and repairs to other bridges.

Work on installing the Freeway Management System (FMS), in the meanwhile, has been completed, while completion of the entire project is targeted for April 2019.

The project is creating a number of short-term job and skills development opportunities. To date, R9,7 million has been spent on targeted labour while 12 500 person-days of work have been created for people from the City of Cape Town Municipal area.

Earlier on the same the morning, the Minister and MEC will pay a visit and do a walkabout at the Windemere Rail Network Control Centre to monitor progress regarding closeness to completion of the project.

The Windemere Rail Network Control Centre will assist, among others in addressing challenges such poor levels of train reliability and predictability, railway infrastructure and technology that has reached the end of its design lifespan, high costs of maintenance, failure to contribute to an efficient transport system, the inability to support economic activity and limited access to socio-economic opportunities for the society in general.

The Minister’s visit forms part of the Department’s October Transport Month Campaign (OTM) for 2017 under the theme: “Together we move South Africa Forward”.

Now in its twelfth (12^th) year running, the OTM was endorsed by Cabinet and inaugurated in 2005 to raise awareness on the important role of transport in the economy and to encourage participation from civil society and business, including the provision of a safe and more affordable, accessible and reliable transport system in the country

The details of the Minister and MEC’s engagement will take place as follows: below:

PART 1:

Site Visit and progress inspection at Windemere Rail Network Control Centre

Date:               Monday, 9 October 2017
Time:              08:30 for 09:00
Venue:            Windermere Control Centre – near Acacia Park, Goodwood.

PART 2:

Monitoring of construction progress on N1 freeway:

Date:              Monday, 09 October 2017
Time:              Moving from the Windermere Control Centre
Venue:            N1 freeway, off McIntyre Road, (next to the De Jager Sports Field), Parow

Members of the media attending the event are requested to confirm their attendance with Sam Monareng on 073 491 3382 or via email on monarens@dot.gov.za and Byron la Hoe on 079 281 8570 0r via email on Byron.lahoe@westerncape.gov.za

NB: Members of the media who will need transportation during the event are requested to indicate this when making their confirmations.