R1.4 billion to fix roads in South Africa’s richest province

The South African National Roads Agency (SANRAL) has awarded three major road resurfacing contracts in Gauteng worth R1.43 billion.

The three projects will be implemented along sections of the R21, N3 and N17 roads in the City of Ekurhuleni and the City of Tshwane Metropolitan Municipalities.

All projects, which were welcomed by SANRAL’s Gauteng Provincial Head, Progress Hlahla, are scheduled to commence after a three-month mobilisation period.

“I am pleased with the awards of these projects as they represent the work that SANRAL puts into the upkeep of Gauteng’s national road network,” the Provincial Head said.

“These routes are important for the transportation of goods and people, connecting communities and facilitating economic activity.”

Roadmac Surfacing has been awarded the R21 resurfacing project between the Olifantsfontein and Hans Strydom interchanges, at a contract value of R499.8 million.

Work along this route will start at the start of January 2027, with construction expected to be completed in April 2028.

According to SANRAL, the work includes resurfacing, replacing danger plates at culvert structures, replacing all permanent warning signs and guardrails where required and applying new road markings.

The N3 resurfacing project between the Heidelberg Road and Geldenhuys interchanges was awarded to Roadspan Surfaces at a contract value of R463 million.

SANRAL expects the contractor on site towards the end of February 2027, with completion planned for September 2028.

“The scope includes resurfacing, drainage repairs, installation and replacement of guardrails, road signs, road markings and road studs,” explained the Roads Agency.

Roadmac was also awarded the N17 resurfacing project from Springs to Leandra Interchange at a contract value of R469.5 million.

The Roads Agency expects construction to commence mid-May 2027, with the scope including removing the existing asphalt and replacing it with a new layer, as well as replacing bridge joints.

Working on repairing the province’s sinkholes

Beyond these resurfacing projects, the Gauteng Department of Roads and Transport (GDRT) has confirmed that it has made progress detecting and rehabilitating the province’s sinkholes.

Between 2023 and 2026, the department carried out rehabilitation work at several affected sites.

This year, the department completed a sinkhole rehabilitation programme along the M5 in the Cradle of Humankind, Mogale City.

At the same time, it also rehabilitated two sinkholes along the P122 Road in Doornkloof, completing the first project in April and the second in August 2026.

Rehabilitation along Hendrik Potgieter Road in Roodepoort, Mogale City, was completed in June 2026.

In 2023, the department completed sinkhole rehabilitation work on Delmas Road linking Tshwane and Ekurhuleni.

The GDRT completed investigations and finalised rehabilitation designs for sinkholes along the R563 in Mogale City, and is appointing a contractor, with repairs expected to begin before the end of 2026.

Following preliminary assessments of the affected section, geotechnical investigations are underway on the R500 in the West Rand, while rehabilitation designs are being prepared ahead of implementation.

The department has also completed rehabilitation designs for the sinkhole on Snake Road in the City of Ekurhuleni, and is awaiting funding to appoint a contractor to resume work.

The Gauteng Roads Department said it developed a Standardised Sinkhole Response Protocol to strengthen its response and guide the rapid and effective management of sinkholes and related issues.

It added that it would continue to monitor sinkhole risks and carry out detailed geotechnical and appropriate engineering assessments to guide rehabilitation efforts.

According to the department, these efforts aim to ensure sinkhole risks are properly managed and critical road infrastructure is protected.

“The protocol responds to various challenges posed by the province’s dolomitic geology and ageing infrastructure, which have contributed to sinkhole development affecting the provincial road network,” it said.