Road maintenance questions answered

The N2 road from Plettenberg Bay to Mossel Bay is currently dangerous in the dark because road markings - white and yellow lines - are faded, with so little paint left on the road in parts, that one cannot see whether the road is a double lane or if there is a shoulder on the side.

Also, part of the road in the Knysna area has been resurfaced and road markings have not been painted yet and the centre line is not properly indicated.

The road is used a great deal during the October and December holidays, so Mossel Bay Advertiser asked the South African National Roads Agency (SANRAL) if maintenance would be completed by October, to make the road safer for motorists at night. Schools close for holidays on 29 September in the Western Cape.

Keenan Walbrugh, SANRAL project manager, responded to the questions.

He said: "Between Mossel Bay and Plettenberg Bay, the faded areas have been identified and remedial works will be undertaken in the coming months. Where there is a road reseal or rehabilitation project pending, road markings on these sections will be done once the road works are complete."

The Advertiser noted to SANRAL: "Part of the road is being upgraded – the tar is new, but there are no road markings, no indication that upgrades are taking place or whether they have just been abandoned and road signs have been covered with black bags or blanked out and there are no replacement signs or information given."

'Periodic maintenance contract'

Walbrugh responded: "On the section of the N2 from Die Vleie, through Sedgefield to Knysna, SANRAL is implementing a periodic maintenance contract in the form of a surface rejuvenator, known as a fog spray. Part of the scope of works of this contract entails the new road marking and road studs, which will commence shortly."

The Advertiser noted: "There are no signs on the roadside, letting the public know that an upgrade is taking place."

Walbrugh replied: "We will assess the traffic accommodation signage to ensure compliance with relevant regulatory and guidance signage. For the section from Die Vleie, through Sedgefield to Knysna, the contract information board (including contact details) indicating roadworks is installed at km 43.57 (N2 section 7) and again at km 16.5 (section 8).

The Advertiser pointed out: "Every now and then there is a metal yellow and white striped little pole on the road in the centre (because there is no centre line), weighed down with a few stones, bricks or a sandbag in the Knysna area, but some of these poles have been removed or stolen and only the bricks are in the road. This is dangerous."

Walbrugh responded: "The delineators are placed as a temporary measure and are monitored on a 24-hour basis. The team will be instructed to be more vigilant in this regard."

The Advertiser asked: "When will the road markings be repainted where they are faint (no paint left, it has worn off) and when will they be painted on the section of the road that seems to have been resurfaced in the Knysna area? The October school holidays are approaching fast and also, it will be holidays in December soon. Many motorists use this road."

Walbrugh said: "Every effort is being made to ensure that the road markings are completed ahead of the holidays."