Name and Location
Soweto road infrastructure projects, Gauteng, South Africa.

Client
Johannesburg Roads Agency.

Project Description
The JRA has launched three road projects in different parts of Soweto.

The gravel roads upgrade programme will entail an extensive upgrade of gravel roads in the district of Soweto. The project will target the townships of Diepsloot, Bramfischerville, Orange Farm, Thulani, Tshepisong and Lawley. The townships of Protea South and Lawley have been added to the list for upgrading in the 2014/15 financial period, with more townships expected to be included over the medium term.

The second project involves the construction of the new Naledi bridge, which will create a safe crossing over the railway line for pedestrians and vehicles in Ward 20, in Naledi, and in Ward 14, in Protea North, region D.

The third project entails the upgrading of the stormwater drains in Dobsonville Extension 3, in region D’s Ward 48, to reduce flooding. This programme will include the conversion of the existing open-drain system to a closed-drain system to prevent the incidence of community members being swept away by high waters during flooding. This will entail the installation of new pipes where none exist and increasing the capacity of the existing systems.

Value
The value of the three projects totals R217.2-million.

The gravel roads upgrade programme has been allocated R161-million for the 2013/14 financial year.

The Naledi bridge construction project has been allocated R50-million.

The stormwater drains will be upgraded at a cost of R6.2-million.

Duration
The Naledi bridge construction project started in June and is expected to be completed by September 2015.

The stormwater drains project started in February and is expected to be completed at the end of July.

Latest Developments
None stated.

Key Contracts and Suppliers
None stated.

On Budget and on Time?
Not stated.

Contact Details for Project Information
JRA, tel + 27 11 298 5001 or fax + 27 11 298 5178.