Central SA
Free State road users urged to drive cautiously this Christmas─── ZENANDE MPAME 06:00 Wed, 04 Dec 2024
As the festive season draws near, road users in the Free State are asked to be cautious because of road works across the province.
Most of the road works are expected to be completed next year. Drivers are urged to plan their road trips to avoid delays, detours and an estimated 30 to 40 minute wait is expected.
A total of 568km of roads in the Free State have been transferred to Sanral to repair and upgrade. The programme will benefit road users and also local communities in the form of jobs and small businesses through subcontracting.
“The R70 between Senekal and Rosendal is still under construction. A contractor was appointed in September last year for a two-year project,” said Free State DA Chairperson of Public Works, Infrastructure, Roads, Transport, and Human Settlements David van Vuuren.
The road works are not close to completion and progress on the project is at 60%. There will be detours in place during the festive season.”
The detour gravel road on the R70 is roughly 30km long, sufficient signage has been put in place and blading maintenance will be done prior to the festive season rush, he said.
There is a 30km detour gravel road on the R70. Photo: Supplied
There are other roads under construction in the province:
- The R707 between Lindley and Senekal: Construction work is continuing and estimated completion for the project is August. Road users are urged to adhere to road signs and reduce speed.
- The R57 between Heilbron and Sasolburg: Stop and go controls are in place. Project completion is estimated at the end of next year.
- R70 from Ficksburg: 12km long road works with an estimated waiting time of 20 minutes.
- The N8 between Tweespruit and Thaba Nchu: This section is under construction till next year. Drivers are urged to proceed with caution.
- The R726 between Sterkspruit and Zastron: Road works are underway and the project is estimated to be completed in May.
Sanral will be renovating the R26 from Ladybrand to Bethlehem, the R34 from the Free State’s northwestern border to the KwaZulu-Natal border, and the R74 that connects Harrismith with KwaZulu-Natal.
“We would like to encourage all the drivers that use Free State roads and live in the province to ensure that they plan appropriately because there are roadworks taking place all over the province,” said Van Vuuren.
