N2-N3 upgrades will boost economic growth: Creecy

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11-10-2024
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SABC News
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Transport Minister Barbara Creecy says freight companies and motorists will breathe a sigh of relief as major route developments will ease congestion on the N2 and N3 national roads.

Creecy conducted an oversight visit in KwaZulu-Natal to assess progress made on highway upgrades.

The major upgrade to the economic corridor will take at least five years to complete to the tune of R50 billion.

The department says the upgrades are crucial for improving the region’s infrastructure, intensifying road safety and boosting economic growth.

The multi-billion-rand construction projects along the N2 and N3 will provide different economic activities and allow for the safe transportation of people as well as freight on a world-class road system.

About 70% of the freight that moves on land travels through the N2 and N3 to and from the ports of Durban and Richards Bay.

The R4.5 billion Kei Ridge Project in Peacevale is currently under construction. It will consist of a new bridge that will link the N3 corridor to several highways and a fully functional freight terminal.

“One of the major problems we are facing in this country in terms of development and growth from a construction point of view is that it gives small companies to grow and to attain the necessary experience so that they can move up their CIDP registration ladder. 30 percent that will be spent on this huge project is on small contractors and the total value is about R8 billion. Obviously, the intention is to make sure that by the time they finish the projects, they are to upgrade their CIBD grading,” says Creecy.

Creecy says the project has also benefitted people with various artisan skills under construction through conducting site training.

“The important work we are doing is to make sure that young people, whether they are at artisan plant or whether they are university graduates, have an opportunity to undertake onsite training so that they can be registered as professionals, as artisans in their particular category of work.”

Speaking to the delays experienced by some of these projects especially related to construction mafias and extortionists, Creecy says this will not be tolerated.

“It is not a good idea because what it means ultimately is that the investment doesn’t get made, jobs don’t get created, and small businesses don’t benefit, and the community at large continue to suffer. What we do is that we have regular meetings with stakeholders so that all community members are aware of what are the benefits that are involved and how the particular community can benefit when such benefit becomes available. I am a person who doesn’t get tired of talking because if there are criminal elements involved, we do work together with SAPS.”

Meanwhile, MEC for Transport in the province, Siboniso Duma echoed with Creecy’s call for law enforcement agencies to deal with those who disturb projects.