Gauteng MEC for Roads and Transport, Ismail Vadi, launched a R200 million road reconstruction and upgrading project on the R82 (Old Vereeniging Road) on 10 March 2012.

The project is aimed at the expanding the road from Eikenhof and Walkerville. Vadi said that this project has been prioritised for development by the Gauteng Department of Roads and Transport as it had been stalled previously due to budgetary constraints. “This is an extremely old road with high traffic volumes.

It is in a state of disrepair and is unsafe for motorists,” said Vadi. “I am pleased that it will be upgraded to a dual carriageway to allow for better and safer mobility between Johannesburg and Emfuleni,” he added. In Phase 1 between Eikenhof and Walkerville, 4.5km of the existing single road way will be rebuilt into a dual carriageway. In the second phase, the total length between Walkerville and De Deur will be upgraded and re-surfaced. The project is scheduled to be completed by July 2013.

Politics must not stand in way of service delivery, says mayor

People's interests must come first, said Simon Mofokeng, Executive Mayor of the Sedibeng District Municipality which oversees the three local municipalities in the district, at the sod-turning ceremony for the reconstruction and upgrading of the road between Johannesburg and Vereeniging.

By Thabiso Radebe