Question NW2360 to the Minister of Transport
17 August 2022 - NW2360
Graham, Ms SJ to ask the Minister of Transport
(1)What was the total cost to his department for the recent upgrades to the R63, which links Graaff-Reinet with Jansenville, Kariega and Gqeberha in the Eastern Cape, on both sides of Jansenville; (2) who was the primary contractor on the project; (3) (a) what is the expected period of durability of the resurfacing in terms of structural integrity and (b) how long before potholes and other surface damage is visible; (4) for what period is the contractor obligated to effect repairs to the road without charging after completion of the project; (5) whether the contractor will be compelled to effect repairs to this road where there are major potholes in the middle of the road and degradation is evident on the apron approximately 27 kilometres from Graaff-Reinet towards Jansenville; if not, who will be responsible for the specified repairs; if so, by what date will the repairs be completed?
Reply:
1. The portion of national road between the Somerset East turn-off north towards Graaff Reinet is the R63 whereas section south of Somerset East turn-off towards Jansenville is the R75. The work on R75 on both sides of Jansenville consisted of two “special maintenance” projects – which included the patching of isolated road pavement areas up to 25% of the project length followed by the re-surfacing the existing road surface. These have been implemented as holding action until such time that reconstruction is economically possible. These were not upgrade projects that will see 100% of existing road pavement being reconstructed. The next maintenance action planned within the lifecycle plan of this road will entail the upgrade project. The two special maintenance contracts had the total costs of R178.4 million, where:
- Phase 1: SPECIAL MAINTENANCE OF NATIONAL ROUTE R75 SECTION 4 FROM JANSENVILLE TO R63 INTERSECTION PHASE 1 (KM -0.4 TO KM 35.0 AND KM 51.0 TO KM 59.1) – Total Construction Cost – R 79 458 348. 99
- Phase 2: SPECIAL MAINTENANCE OF NATIONAL ROUTE R75 SECTION 4 FROM KM 35.0 TO KM 51.0 PHASE 2. Total Construction Cost – R 98 992 869,61
2. Primary Contractors were:
- Phase 1: ROADSPAN SURFACES (PTY) LTD
- Phase 2: TAUPELE (PTY) LTD
3. The expected durability of the resurfacing is 8 to 10 years, but this is dependent on several variables such as traffic, climate (rainfall) and existing road pavement condition before the repairs. For roads in poorer pavement condition such as this section of the R75, it can be expected that pavement defects will manifest in 2 to 5 years following the resurfacing treatment on some areas that was not patched before the resurfacing.
4. The contractor is obliged to effect repairs for defects liability period of 12 months after completion of the project.
- Phase 1: Defects liability period was 28 November 2019 to 28 November 2020.
- Phase 2: Defects liability period 10 September 2021 to 10 September 2022.
5. From the reference distance, the potholes were located on Phase 1 project, for which defects liability period has come to an end on 28 November 2020. Investigation has shown that in this instance the potholes were not related to patches done under the special maintenance contract, and thus not related to the quality of contractor’s work. The pothole repairs on the affected section are for the account of SANRAL and were completed by SANRAL Routine Maintenance Contractor on 7th June 2022.