Premier MaQueen Letsoha-Mathae delivered her second State of the Province Address at Lemo Green Park in Bloemfontein on Friday morning (21/2).

The Premier touched on investments made in the construction, upgrading, and maintenance of road infrastructure to bolster growth and development.

“Highways, railways and access roads connect people, cities, towns and rural areas as well as enhancing prospects of economic opportunities.

“We are pleased to announce that we will complete the following roads; Zastron to Sterkspruit, Rosendal to Ficksburg, Jacobsdal to Koffiefontein, Luckhoff to Havenga Bridge, Harrismith SEZ, and Viljoenskroon to Orkney.

“We have made available R993 million for special road maintenance to address rapid road deterioration caused by increased freight transport,” she said.

A total of 634 km of roads in the Free State were transferred to Sanral to repair and upgrade. The programme benefitted road users and also local communities in the form of jobs and small businesses through subcontracting.

The provincial government’s partnership with Sanral has created massive employment and economic opportunities in the province.

“The 634 km of road network we transferred to Sanral has created 1,570 jobs,” said Letsoha-Mathae. “It is expected that these opportunities will continue to grow into the foreseeable future.”

Construction, repairs and maintenance of the following roads with a combined budget of R758 million are ongoing:

• Hennenman , Kroonstad, Virginia
• R 707 between Senekal and Lindley
• Lindley to Petrus Steyn
• Tweespruit to Excelsior
• R57 between Senekal and Rosendal
• Koppies to Sasolburg
• Kroonstad to Steynsrus
• Sasolburg to Heilbron (Phase 2)
• Tweespruit to Hobhouse, and
• Qwaqwa Primary Roads

R250 million has also been set aside for new projects to commence in the first quarter of the 2025/26 financial year.

OFM News/Zenande Mpame cg