Sani Pass to be tarred

[gummibear]

In 5 years it'll be back to gravel

[Mojoman]

Someone in authority decided to 'concrete' one of our local dirt roads in the area (from Magalies, via the brickworks up to Maropeng Road). I believe the contractors were supposed to do the whole length of the road but only a small section was completed in Dec as the money ran out....? The pic shows how the road was looking just a few months after they finished in Dec and it stayed this way for a couple of months even though the reinforcing bar was protuding out! This road doesnt see that much light traffic other than locals but does have several fully loaded big brickyard trucks going up and down it a couple of times a day.

 

Its to be hoped that if they do tar the pass they do it right the first time, dont use concrete (!) and keep up with maintenance.

[DIPSLICK]

You're missing the point.

 

As stated in his posts, tombeej works in this area and has first-hand experience of Sani Pass as a main regional access route for locals, that is on top of Sani Pass as an adventure route. Cognisant of his informed opinions, what would the issues be that he needs to "work through"?

I THINK MY POST WAS PRETTY CLEAR clearly he has a issue with people who can afford a 4x4 and he is generalizing about people who drive 4x4 and how they conduct themselves, so if he can throw all 4x4 drivers in the RICH BUCKET i can throw him in a bucket of people with issues

[Tumbleweed]

Where's BigH when you need to talk about roads?

[DIPSLICK]

In 5 years it'll be back to gravel

if that money even gets used and doesnt end up in the pockets of politicians,

 

that road in the berg by little swiss, has been paid for twice, contractors gone

[DIPSLICK]

Where's BigH when you need to talk about roads?

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO :eek:

[Vetseun]

Where's BigH when you need to talk about roads?

Oom would have sorted this out quick quick

[ChUkKy]

Oom would have sorted this out quick quick

 

Agreed, but he is sitting in poffadder suiping brannewyn dreaming of a ford.

[Sniffie]

Oom would have sorted this out quick quick

Oom would have e-tolled Sani Pass.

[Stretch]

if that money even gets used and doesnt end up in the pockets of politicians,

 

that road in the berg by little swiss, has been paid for twice, contractors gone

 

I was told the story of that by one of the FS farmers there. They ripped up the tar, did the subsurface layer then ran out of money....contract had to go out to tender again....then by the time the tender was awarded the subsurface layer was so stuffed up from people driving on it they have to redo it again...new contractor rips up the old subsurface layer, redoes it and........runs out of money!

 

you can literally see a line in the road where you go from FS DOT to KZN DOT

 

Edit...slight deviation/hijack: and this is a major problem with construction in government in this country at the moment. People are under quoting to such an extent to get the work that they are either folding during the contract or immediately after..once they have bought their ford ranger and paid their expensive salary of course. They then liquidate and open up a new construction company..I have seen tenders with quotes showing R25/bag of cement.

[Karooryder]

I THINK MY POST WAS PRETTY CLEAR clearly he has a issue with people who can afford a 4x4 and he is generalizing about people who drive 4x4 and how they conduct themselves, so if he can throw all 4x4 drivers in the RICH BUCKET i can throw him in a bucket of people with issues

 

Not a generalisation but an observation, and let's be honest...a valid one.

 

Anyway, the issue is not with 4x4 drivers and how they conduct themselves but rather the fact that outsiders with all the means to make a safe and comfy trip up the Pass (for the sake of recreation), seem to disregard the fact that hundreds of locals use that road on a daily basis for subsistence means, putting themeselves in danger as a result of the condition of the road. In addition, local communities are deprived of proper basic services due to access limitations and a lack of infrastructure while adventurers advocate an adventure route. That in short...

[gummibear]

Rubbish. I'm in that area a lot of the time. The Sani Pass Hotel is a client of ours. The pass as it stands right now is a serious hazard when it rains, or worse, when it snows. Unroadworthy vehicles are going up there every day in long lines - I'm talking about all the taxies as an example. The only thing that prevents them coming down is the couple of times a year when the pass is snowed in. Otherwise those taxis fly down there no matter what the conditions.

 

I've personally been on that mountain when it's been snowed in, and watched villagers who live at the top being dumped out of the taxis halfway up, with all their luggage and made to walk through the snow and sludge. I spent an afternoon once helping an old gogo drag her suitcases up to the top. Took hours and I was fit. She would never have made it. Not to mention how difficult it is for them to access basic services like healthcare, or just to buy food from supermarket.

 

 

 

Not sure how much snow that area gets in winter but will it be salted and gritted?I have driven in snow on tar and gravel and it's much safer on gravel without winter tyres.

 

I am sure that when it's tarred you'll have even more Skorraskorra taxis on that pass.Those that can't make it up the gravel will attempt it when it's tarred.Surely this will also cause more accidents.

[DIPSLICK]

I was told the story of that by one of the FS farmers there. They ripped up the tar, did the subsurface layer then ran out of money....contract had to go out to tender again....then by the time the tender was awarded the subsurface layer was so stuffed up from people driving on it they have to redo it again...new contractor rips up the old subsurface layer, redoes it and........runs out of money!

 

you can literally see a line in the road where you go from FS DOT to KZN DOT

 

Edit...slight deviation/hijack: and this is a major problem with construction in government in this country at the moment. People are under quoting to such an extent to get the work that they are either folding during the contract or immediately after..once they have bought their ford ranger and paid their expensive salary of course. They then liquidate and open up a new construction company..I have seen tenders with quotes showing R25/bag of cement.

 

I HEARD EXACKERY THE SAME ABOUT THAT ROAD

[Vetseun]

I HEARD EXACKERY THE SAME ABOUT THAT ROAD

Calm down, think, then start screaming

[DIPSLICK]

Calm down, think, then start screaming

JUST SCREAMING FOR YOU TOPPIE, we all know the eye sight and hearing isnt that great when you reach the half decade range

[Vetseun]

JUST SCREAMING FOR YOU TOPPIE, we all know the eye sight and hearing isnt that great when you reach the half decade range

FAKAF