Sanral to put N2, N3 upgrades out to tender

THE first batch of contracts worth billions of rand for the upgrading of the N2 and N3 routes would be put out to tender over the next few weeks.

The South African National Roads Agency (Sanral) announced yesterday that the full extent of the planned upgrades was expected to take up to eight years to complete, as various phases of the project were being let to tender.

This would include the upgrading of the N2 from the KwaMashu Interchange to Umdloti Interchange, the N3 from Cato Ridge to Dardanelles and from Dardanelles to the Lynnfield Interchange.

The upgrades form part of the national government’s key strategic integrated projects, which includes the Durban-Free State-Gauteng Logistics and Industrial Corridor.

The upgrades of the N2 would focus on a 55km stretch, from the Illovo River, on the South Coast, to Umdloti, on the North Coast. The N3 upgrade would focus on an 80km section from Durban to Pietermaritzburg.

Sanral’s Dumisani Nkabinde said the agency’s transformation policy set clearly defined targets for the participation of black contractors, professionals, and suppliers in all of its projects.

“Transformation of the construction industry is a long process so Sanral undertakes to develop SMMEs in various divisions within the construction and other related sectors.

“Sanral is also strengthening its community liaison through establishing communication structures that link the projects and adjacent communities,” said Nkabinde.

Sanral said the contracts stipulated that successful tenderers must be B-BBEE Level 1 to 4 and must subcontract a minimum of 30% of the value of the contract to Exempt Micro Enterprises (EMEs) or Qualifying Small Enterprises (QSEs) that are more than 51% black-owned.