The refurbishment of Cedar Road completed

03 June 2016

 

For the past several months, 863 residents of Cosmo City and Diepsloot called a stretch of Cedar Road near Fourways their workstation.  On Thursday June 2, they were praised for their role in turning the previously narrow and congested section of the road into a dual carriageway with improved lighting, traffic control measures, pedestrian walkways and well-developed intersections.

 

The workers received training on road construction. Seven diploma students were enrolled on the experiential training programme and a further 10 students with N6 qualifications were employed on site for over six months.

 

The official opening of the road was attended by Gauteng MEC for Roads and Transport Ismail Vadi and City of Johannesburg's Member of the Mayoral Committee for Transport, Councillor Christine Walters.

 

The cost of the project, jointly funded by the Gauteng Department of Roads and Transport and Steyn City property developers, was initially estimated at R95-million. But the project ended up costing R88.5-million.   

 

MEC Vadi said the money that had been saved would be used for other projects.  “A big thank you to our developers and contractors,” said MEC Vadi.   “This public-private partnership has led to significant improvements to the road network in the area and has contributed to the ease of mobility and economic development.”

 

MMC Walters said the Cedar Road project demonstrated how the government and the private sector could work together to accelerate development and create employment opportunities for people. 

 

“Gauteng is a province under construction. This is a good sign because it means the City and the province are moving and developing,” Cllr Walters said.

 

During his recent Budget presentation, the City’s MMC for Finance, Councillor Geoffrey Makhubo, said that by the end of the 2015-2016 financial year, Johannesburg would have spent R30-billion to refurbish roads, reconstruct bridges and overhaul motorway infrastructure.