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Work on SANRAL’s Polokwane ring road project will resume this September. The roads agency has appointed Edwin Construction (Pty) Ltd. to continue construction of the road.
The original contract was awarded to Basil Read in August 2015 with work continuing well until June 2018 when the contractor began to experience cash flow challenges which led to the commencement of a business rescue process.
 
SANRAL’s Northern Region Manager, Progress Hlahla, says that Edwin Construction will continue on the original contract and have not been appointed on a new one. “In April 2019, the SANRAL board approved the appointment of the contractor to continue the work. This is allowed under the terms of the contract if both parties agree. SANRAL, Basil Read and the insurers, Credit Guarantee Insurance Corporation of Africa Limited (CGIC), have agreed that the contract will be ceded from Basil Read to Edwin Construction. CGIC will issue a new 10% Performance Bond and are assisting SANRAL to cover and off-set some of the additional administrative and CPA costs.”
 
At a contract value of R226.5 million excluding VAT and provision for CPA, the remaining construction work to be carried out by Edwin Construction includes the completion of the new road, widening and strengthening of the old carriageway which will become the new south bound carriageway, completion of the new intersections at the R37 (Lydenburg) and P977 (Silikon) road crossings, bridge structures, culverts, road markings, studs, signage, fencing and drainage. The contractor will also be responsible for cleaning up and finishing off the road reserve, quarries and borrow pits.
 
“It is our hope that this project will reach completion by November 2020. Its success will increase safety and improve the flow of traffic towards the Polokwane CBD.”, says Hlahla.
Hlahla also says that the road will remain safe throughout the upcoming festive season.
 
“While our routine road maintenance team has been ensuring safety on the route since Basil Read suspended operations in June 2018, Edwin Construction will be responsible for traffic safety along the entire contract length. A qualified and experienced Traffic Safety Officer will be appointed, whose sole responsibility will be to look after road safety issues on a daily basis. Over the December holiday period, special teams will be on standby to carry out road maintenance activities such as pothole patching, road markings, cleaning storm water debris and fixing signs”, he concludes.
 

Issued by SANRAL