Mdantsane highway finally set to open

Much work remains to be done in terms of kerbs, water drainage and lights

The newly constructed Qumza Highway in Mdantsane will be opened to the public in December after more than two years of being closed.

On Thursday residents told the Dispatch they were overjoyed at the news, announced by BCM mayor Xola Pakati on Wednesday.

Resident Nomvuzo Peter said: “We will be very happy if they really open the finished section. The alternative routes are small and next to the informal settlement where I live.

“There is always dust as a result of the hundreds of cars using the gravel road since they closed the road near Mazidlekhaya. When the main road is reopened we will surely have some calm on the roads.”

Pakati, speaking after a site inspection on Wednesday, said getting the finished section up and running would ease traffic congestion in Mdantsane.

Pakati said: “We had a lot of challenges with the first contractor we appointed. That road would have been finished now if we did not encounter those problems. We will still need to erect speed bumps because cars could speed on the road.”

BCM spokesperson Samkelo Ngwenya said the new section of road is expected to be opened in first week of December, “weather permitting”. He said: “The section starts from Mazidlekhaya [intersection] until the crossroad in NU9. The full completion of the project is scheduled for March 2021. The current work ends at the Mdantsane City shopping centre entrance. The contractor will work on that section going to the mall after works on the road, kerbs, stormwater drainage and the installation of street lights [are completed].”

Initially the project was budgeted at R117m and scheduled for complexion in 2018.

However, Ngwenya told the Dispatch last year that the new contractor, Stefanutti Stocks, would be paid R269m, R152m higher than the initial pricing.

He said the tender for the roadworks from Mazidlekhaya to the Golden Highway is expected to go out to tender early in 2020.

The new contract will cost R269m, R152m higher than the initial pricing

Pictures: MICHAEL PINYANA BETTER LATE THAN NEVER: Sections of the Qumza highway in Mdantsane are showing progress after more than two years of upgrading, running over a year behind schedule.