A roads upgrade project in Bonteheuwel that was supposed to start in February this year will be finished in the new financial year.
According to local Ward councillor Angus McKenzie the upgrade is focussed on the old concrete road. “We want to give the community an upgrade. Road work was due to start on 1 February 2023, a project totalling R69 million, a contractor was appointed. My December 2022 break was cut short to come back to assist consultants with the planning which included implementation plan, randomisation of job seekers list, engagement with sub-contractors and appointment of a community liaison officer. We also confirmed the site office which was the vacant land at Bonteheuwel High School.
“All these matters were concluded and the project was all set to start 1 February. The starting date came and went and the contractor did not appear. It was later established that due to financial constraints from the contractor he was unable to implement the project and the contract subsequently followed the cancellation process,” says McKenzie.
The way forward
McKenzie wants to insure residents that all is not lost. “Due to stringent supply chain processes it is not possible to just hand the project over to another or the next contractor on the list. In the background over the last few months I have been working relentlessly with the Urban Mobility Department on this project and can confirm that within this financial year, July 2023 to June 2024, the tender will be put out again and a contractor will again be appointed.
“It will however be an easier planning process as all the ground work has already been done. Road works will begin in August 2024 and the project completed by November 2025. While I apologise for the consistent delay as illustrated above this is of no fault of the City, the sub-council or the councillor, but a rather unfortunate ripple effect of covid on the appointed contractor at the time,” he says.
