Transport MEC unveils contractor for Dwesa road phase 2
One of the largest construction companies in the country will tackle the next phase of tarring a notorious gravel road from Willowvale to the coast.
Transport MEC Weziwe Tikana-Gxothiwe announced that WBHO Construction was the company that had been tasked with implementing the second phase of the Dwesa road project to much fanfare on Friday.
She said the company would tar a section of the 52km gravel stretch between Willowvale and Dwesa Beach. The route gained notoriety in 2015 when 35 passengers were killed after the bus they were travelling in overturned near one of the villages along the road.
The total cost of the project is R800m but it has been divided into four phases with phase 1, which involved repairing the streets in Willowvale and construction of a bypass, completed. In Willowvale on Friday, Tikana-Gxothiwe told hundreds of residents that WBHO had a Grade 9 rating, the highest possible.
The MEC said the second phase of the road project entailed tarring 15,5km from the
CBD to Msengeni junction over the next two years. No delays would be excused, aside from inclement weather.
Provincial transport spokesperson Unathi Binqose told the Dispatch the second phase was expected to kick off by March. A steering committee would be set up and local residents would be employed as part of the project’s workforce.
Nkelenkele village resident Mkhangeli Magadleli was delighted by the news, including that the project would create local jobs. “That road is just too bad at the moment so I am very happy that it is being surfaced at last,” he said.
Mbhashe municipality mayor Samkelo Janda said they were excited at the news, adding that the horrific 2015 bus accident had been a “great shock” for everyone. Many residents were still afraid of catching buses and other public transport to town because of the state of the road. Janda said the project would not only create jobs for locals but also boost the local economy.
“When there was an outcry about the state of this road, we were the ones who had to bear the brunt of the anger of the people. Hence we are overjoyed that the provincial government has stepped in,” he said.