Nightmare continues for N2 motorists going north as road maintenance halts
THE R57-million road maintenance project on the N2 between Durban and Kwadukuza (Stanger) was expected to be completed last February.
But according to the SA National Roads Agency Limited (Sanral), which owns and maintains national roads, the project would not be finished in the near future because of defective materials.
Construction work has been ongoing near King Shaka Airport and the Kwadukuza exit on the north-bound carriageway. The delay in completing the work has angered motorists, who endure traffic jams during peak hours because the road has been reduced to a single lane due to construction.
The N2 is considered one of the most expensive routes to travel because of the toll fees, but motorists feel they are not getting value for their money. The affected stretch of road links Durban and Richards Bay, also one of the busiest routes in the province.
Motorists using light vehicles and travelling between Durban and Richards Bay pay R70 in toll fees.
“The road gets very congested during peak hours and there are no signs we will be rid of this problem in the near future,” said Megan Moodley, who drives daily between Empangeni and Durban.
“We expect the condition of the road to be of a high standard at all times. It has been almost six months and there’s been no progress,” Moodley said.
Ravi Ronny, Sanral’s eastern region design and planning manager, said both upgrades were being undertaken under one contract and had been awarded to Nyoni Construction. “The work stopped when it was found the materials did not meet specifications. The contractor could not obtain suitable material to meet the minimum bearing ratio requirements.
Ronny said Sanral was considering terminating the contract and was unsure when construction would resume.