R12bn needed to fix N West roads

2011-05-25 18:06

Johannesburg - About R12bn is needed to repair and upgrade roads in the North West over the next five years, the North West Business Forum said on Wednesday.

However, there would be an annual funding shortfall of about R1.8bn, it said.

The forum said in a statement: "The focus is to address the most critical roads in need of repair which will cost R1.4bn, which is additional to the existing budget over the next three years."

A solution had been identified by the Road Network Management System in the form of a loan application for critical projects.

"In total 32 projects have been identified... there are 1 622km of roads which need to be addressed and 18 200 full time jobs to be created," the forum said.

"There is no hiding from the fact that... the situation in our province does look bleak."

- SAPA