EThekwini Municipality says the upgrade of the Old North Coast Road in Durban North is progressing well, with construction expected to be completed in September 2025.

The R181.9 million project, which started in May last year, aims to improve road networks and ease traffic congestion in the area.

According to the municipality, the project, which has created various job opportunities, has been commended by residents in Ward 110, including local businesses, and other existing industrial developments within the ward, who will benefit from the project.

Project Engineer Sihle Myeza said despite minor challenges, the project is progressing well.

‘The project consists of constructing reinforced concrete retaining walls with parapets on the left-hand side and specialist lateral support retaining wall on the right-hand side.

‘Other work includes bulk earthworks, stormwater, culverts, layer works, service relocations, kerbing, building sidewalks, median islands, sub-soils, gabions, guardrails, asphalting and rei
nstatement,’ Myeza said.

Myeza said some of the challenges experienced in the project including water, electricity, and telecommunications services being temporarily relocated for the retaining walls and earthworks to continue.

He said these services will be permanently relocated.

‘Another issue was the unstable embankments that collapsed while cutting for the retaining wall and posed a risk. To deal with this issue, a geotechnical assessment was done on the embankments.

‘A geotechnical report from a geotechnical engineer was produced proposing that a specialist lateral support retaining wall be constructed to ensure the embankments are stable,’ Myeza said.

Source: South African Government News Agency