STARTING March, the 33.7km stretch of N2 between the Mtunzini Toll and Empangeni/Richards Bay offramp will get an impressive makeover by construction and engineering contractor Murray & Roberts.
The scope of work will include the construction of a second carriageway to create a dual highway as well as rehabilitating the existing road over a period of 40 months.
This would entail widening the bridges over the Mlalazi River and Mhlathuze River; extending four agricultural overpasses; constructing a road over rail bridges at two locations, extending existing culverts; upgrading interchange ramps at the eSikhaleni and Empangeni/Richards Bay interchanges and rehabilitating surfaced lanes.
The Basic Assessment Report (BAR) asserts, if the entire route is not expanded within the next 15 years, traffic congestion will build up leading to the section between eSikhaleni and Empangeni experiencing the ‘worst levels of service’.
‘Empangeni/Richards Bay is a major freight transport hub from a vehicles’ and tonnage perspective, with N2 route to Mtubatuba and Mtunzini carrying a large proportion of road freight within the province.
‘Endemic overloading of heavy vehicles which, though better controlled in KZN than the rest of the country, has negative consequences for the life of the roads in the province.
‘The cumulative effects of increasing road usage and accumulated deficits in the funding of road maintenance are felt by all road users in terms of increased vehicle operating costs.
‘The deteriorating condition of roads in KZN is a cause for grave concern as it contributes to rising costs, inflation and increasing accident rates,’ the BAR stated.
SA Road Federation Vice Chair, Mike Patterson said more N2 upgrading and expansion is in store north from Richards Bay and Empangeni up to Pongola.
‘It certainly is crucial for the ever increasing traffic on these routes.
‘We are more than pleased with the upcoming project as Mtunzini and eSikhaleni have grown substantially over the years, not to mention Tronox KZN’s new Fairbreeze Mine south of Mtunzini.’
