The Gauteng Department of Roads and Transport (GDRT) last month announced the implementation of a major rehabilitation programme for culverts and bridges in the City of Tshwane to ensure their long-term safety, durability and functionality.

The programme – conducted under its Bridge Management System to preserve critical provincial road infrastructure – will be implemented over 12 months.

The scope of work includes a range of structural repair and rehabilitation activities aimed at extending the lifespan of the bridges and improving road-user safety. These include undertaking repairs to existing rails and parapets; replacement of bridge joints; repairing spalled concrete; sealing cracks; widening of select bridges and approaches; bridge deck and approach resurfacing; guardrail installations; the painting of steel structures; and the construction of road pavement layers.

The programme covers wards 107, 66, 55, 48 and 7 and includes bridges B59 and B1015 along the R101, over the Hennops river, south of Valhalla in Centurion, Pretoria; bridge B2114 situated along the gravel road D775 in the south-west of Atteridgeville; bridges B637, B649 and B760 on the R511, south-west of Atteridgeville; and bridge B142 on the R514 in the north-west of Tshwane.

The GDRT noted that a structured stakeholder engagement framework was followed, covering all affected wards, to ensure “transparent, equitable and inclusive stakeholder participation in the programme [and facilitate a] fair and transparent recruitment process”. This enabled access to skills development, employment and local economic opportunities for local communities.

The process included convening ward-based stakeholder sector forums for youth, women, persons living with disability and military veterans, including broad-based black economic empowerment entities and cooperatives.

Gauteng Roads and Transport MEC Kedibone Diale-Tlabela emphasised the department’s responsibility in undertaking these rehabilitation projects as “critical to  [. . .] ensuring safer and more reliable infrastructure for motorists, freight operators and surrounding communities”.

The GDRT called for patience and understanding during the construction period, adding that contractors and other stakeholders have committed to minimise inconvenience.

It also called for motorists and members of the public to exercise extreme caution near construction sites, adhere to temporary road signage and cooperate with traffic officials.

Meanwhile, three days before the announcement, Diale-Tlabela completed oversight inspections at the Tsamaya Road (K54) and Garsfontein Road (K50) projects.

The GDRT noted that the oversight visits were aimed at assessing the projects’ effectiveness and efficiency, while ensuring that their implementation aligned with approved plans, budgets and quality standards.

Diale-Tlabela expressed confidence that both projects would be completed on time and within budget.

“The K54 and K50 projects are critical investments in Gauteng’s future. Improved road infrastructure will enhance mobility, reduce travel times, stimulate economic activity and create opportunities for communities across the province,” she noted.

The GDRT said the oversight programme is designed to identify operational and technical challenges that may delay project completion, and the inspections also allow officials to implement immediate corrective measures.

“Road infrastructure development remains a major challenge for us in Gauteng [owing] to a variety of issues, including encroachments, community disruptions, project stoppages and contractor performance. This is why we continuously assess our projects to ensure they are completed on time,” Diale-Tlabela averred.

The MEC added that proactive oversight is essential to ensuring projects meet engineering and safety standards while maintaining accountability and transparency in the use of public funds.

The department said continued investment in smart transport infrastructure forms part of government’s broader vision to improve accessibility and socioeconomic opportunities across Gauteng.

“As government, we have a responsibility to ensure that every rand invested in infrastructure delivers tangible benefits to our residents. Through these inspections, we are reinforcing accountability, transparency and quality service delivery,” Diale-Tlabela said.