Photo by: Duane Daws
Gauteng Roads and Transport MEC Ismail Vadi this week officially opened the newly built Randfontein-Tarlton road in the West Rand.
The 7.9 km road, which was constructed at a cost of R50-million, comprised a two-lane, single carriageway between Randfontein and the R24 connecting Mogale City, Tarlton and Rustenburg.
As part of the project, the road was upgraded to a 9.4-m-wide surfaced road with a stormwater system that could accommodate a 1-in-25-year flood occurrence.
"The road serves as the Randfontein western bypass and is a relatively high mobility, rural road moving large volumes of people and agricultural goods,” Vadi said, adding that government hoped the road would support the rural economy and facilitate ease of mobility between Gauteng and the North West.
“[Previously, the road] was in a very poor condition due to the dolomitic nature of the area and the formation of sinkholes.
“There were lots of potholes and, with over 1 000 cars and trucks using it on a daily basis, it posed as a major risk to motorists and pedestrians in the area,” Vadi said.
During the construction phase, 111 employment opportunities were created, of which 81 were for young people.
The project was also linked to a basic training programme related to road maintenance and construction and a local economic empowerment component involving four contractors.