Upgrade of MR344 and DR1578 near Groot-Brakrivier

There are currently seven areas where work is being undertaken:

Monte Christo intersection to the Klein-Brakrivier Bridge: A road upgrade is being constructed along this portion. The final layer works are currently being constructed and the contractor has confirmed that this section will be surfaced and open to traffic by 14 December 2018. Appurtenant works such as drainage channels adjacent to the road and storm water structures will continue into 2019 but will not affect traffic flow.      

Riverside village: A half width of the road has been completed up to asphalt base level. The contractor is currently constructing the final layer works on the second half of the road. This section of road will be completed full width to asphalt base level and open by 14 December 2018. Kerbing and walkways will start this year and will be completed in 2019.

Upgraded concrete culvert at Riverside Village: The Contractor is busy with layer works over the half width of the upgraded culvert. The completed half up to asphalt base level was opened to traffic. Construction has commenced on the second half of the culvert. The second half will be competed to asphalt base level and full width over the culvert opened to traffic on 14 December 2018.

MR344 (R102) between Impala road intersection and DR1578 at Tergniet: This section of road remains closed at present and construction of the final layer works is in progress. This section of road will receive final surfacing and be open to traffic by 14 December 2018. Appurtenant works such as drainage channels adjacent to the road and storm water structures will continue into 2019 but will not affect traffic flow.      

MR344 (R102) between Tergniet and Groot-Brakrivier: The traffic will be switched over onto the new half width road by mid-November and remain under the stop/go control system until 11 December 2018. Construction of the second half of the road will unfortunately not be completed by the end of the year. However, the new half width can accommodate two lanes of traffic under restricted conditions and will be opened to two way traffic on 14^th December 2018. 

Roundabout at Groot-Brakrivier: The first half of the roundabout has been surfaced and traffic flow to the De Dekke business area is now unrestricted. The traffic circle will be completed to asphalt base level by 14 December 2018 but will be controlled as a three way stop system through the end of the year holiday period. Kerbing and traffic islands will be constructed from early January 2018 and when completed, the traffic circle will become fully operational.

DR1578 from Tergniet to the Amy Searle Street: This section of road is being constructed under full width conditions, while traffic is being accommodated with stop/go controls. The northern part of the road between Reebokstene and Amy Searle Street is currently under construction. This road will be open full width to traffic by 14 December 2018 but will not be surfaced.

Traffic accommodation on site

The traffic accommodation at present consists of four stop/go control points through the contract:

MR344 (R102) at the Monte Christo intersection: This is a daytime control point that allows access to Swan’s Nursery in the section under half width construction. Due to minimal traffic there are no delays at this point. The road between Swan’s nursery and the Klein-Brakrivier bridge remains closed for full width construction.

Riverside Village: This is a 24hr control point that controls traffic through Riverside while the road is constructed in half widths. To date, this control point has worked efficiently. With the co-operation of the local residents and drivers, the waiting period is about two minutes.

MR344 (R102) between Tergniet and Groot-Brakrivier: This is a three way, 24hr control point that manages traffic between Long  The average waiting period at this control point is about 5 minutes. There have been a few occasions where the delay has been longer mainly due to movement of construction plant between different construction areas.

DR1578 between Reebokstene and Amy Searle Street: This is a 24hr control point that controls the half width section of the road under construction. To date, there have been no incidences and the waiting time is at most 5 minutes.