Port upgrades spark transport concerns
Transnet to begin huge road upgrade works at Richards Bay port.
VAST road upgrades around the Richards Bay harbour have left port users concerned about hundreds of trucks backlogging during the year-long construction period.
At a stakeholder meeting hosted by the Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) on Tuesday, Project Manager Sibusiso Dlamini explained what the massive task will entail and welcomed suggestions to smooth out the process.
Starting at the end of this month, roads to be refurbished are Newark, Ventura, Octopus, Silver Ocean, Urania, Berm, Dune and Dumra.
Upgrading of the port’s roads infrastructure is in line with Transnet’s roads master plan for 2015/2016.
The expected project completion is March next year.
‘For a project of this nature and at this location, it is of utmost importance that the construction work is completed safely and without any accidents, while ensuring minimal delays to the vehicles using these roads,’ said Dlamini.
‘We will provide traffic controllers 24/7 to keep traffic going despite the road closures.
‘Stop-and-go arrangements can be annoying, but unfortunately we have no choice but to implement them.
‘Newark is an arterial road, so in case of emergencies we will provide an additional way to mitigate traffic.’
While many port users at the meeting thanked the TNPA for improving the line of communication with them, many were still apprehensive about how the civil work will impact logistics inside the port.
‘We have between 200 and 300 trucks coming in and out every day and they are already bottle-necking – how will you control this issue with road closures?’ asked Bay Shipping’s Tokkie Pieterse.
‘Even if we try to plan ahead, road transport is an animal on its own. The impact will be massive, so response time from Transnet will determine whether this works or does not work.’
Sasol’s Vikesh Sewpursat requested a detailed construction schedule.
‘What we don’t rail we transport by road, so we will need to inform trucks coming from the Secunda plant exactly when and where they will be affected.’
Samancor Chrome’s Jan Greyling asked TNPA to address buses’ lack of adherence to road rules in the harbour.
‘There is already no space for stoppages for buses going from west to east, so a concerted effort to stop them from continuing to disrupt traffic must be made,’ said Greyling.
Dlamini asked all stakeholders to email their suggestions so Transnet’s Infrastructure Department who can then align the project with their needs.
