IN little over one month, the entire John Ross Parkway construction and upgrade project will be completed.
All that’s left to do is the final westbound section from the Oilco intersection to the R102, including the second road-over-rail bridge.
And if that is good news for commuting motorists, it is a thousand times more so for businesses at Empangeni Rail, where traffic disruptions have had a huge negative impact on trade.
At the 53rd meeting of the John Ross Project Liaison Committee, held on site on Thursday, the example was shared of Quality Cars, who reportedly experienced their worst trading month in 14 years.
The Rail Project section of highway, which commenced in April 2012, is in its final month and practical completion is set for the end of September.
To date R106-million of the R132-million budget has been spent, using local suppliers, materials and sub-contractors, creating 89 job opportunities and paying R4.3-million in wages.
The last major item for completion is ‘Bridge B’, the crucial link between the Oilco intersection and the Rail.
The superstructure has been completed and laying of the asphalt base and surface is due to begin, along with tarring of the final sections of road leading to and from the bridge.
Still to be finalised are sidewalks, street markings, drains, street lighting, guard rails, median islands, traffic signals and road markings.
Target date for the Tanner Road/Caltex intersection is 10 September.
Job almost done, now it is time to do road markings on your way to rb again, the road has taken so long that those markings are almost invisible at night.