04 Sep 2022

Progress made on Mochudi-Malotwana 11km road rehabilitation is impressive, Member of Parliament for Mochudi West, Mr Mmusi Kgafela has said.

Mr Kgafela learnt during a site visit on the project recently that in terms of progress, the road project was sitting at 75 per cent actual progress compared to 85 per cent planned progress, which amounted to two and a half weeks behind schedule in terms of the time-frame.

He said despite a few glitches that the contractor faced, the project seemed to be on good track. Mr Kgafela, who is also Minister of Trade and Industry said he was optimistic that upon completion, the road would help ease road traffic congestion on A1 road as it would provide an inter-link between Mochudi-Malotwana and the A1 road.

Giving a progress report prepared by Mason Group (Pty) Ltd, the project officer Mr Bruce Jansen said the expectation was for the project, which started on November 2021 to be completed in November 2022, but due to unforeseen circumstances, there might be a need for extension of about three months.

Mr Jansen cited some of the challenges they faced such as the escalating fuel prices which had severely affected the contractor’s cash flow, and the high bitumen product prices.

Mr Jansen said as a matter of mitigation, the contractor had submitted a revised works programme, adding that payment of the contractor’s claim would significantly help in cash flow and eventually progress since the contractor would be able to source other plant to catch up on earth works. Ends