New N1 off-ramp opens
2006-02-02
THE long-awaited N1 on-ramp at the Paarl Mall, that creates a new link between Paarl and Cape Town, opened last week after a delay caused by a bitumen shortage.
The new on-ramp, that forms an integral part of the impressive new R330 million Paarl Mall development and relieves Paarl’s historic Main Street of traffic congestion, was due to open in time to carry Christmas traffic.
The nationwide fuel crisis that hit South Africa during the festive season had the knock-on effect of putting bitumen production temporarily on hold, with the resultant delay of the completion of the on-ramp.
Contractors Haw & Inglis set a new deadline - the third week of January - which they have met effortlessly.
Chris Fleming from co-developers, Grapnel Group, says he and his team are very impressed with the quality of work produced by Haw & Inglis.
“The delay was something beyond their control, which we fully understood. Apart from that minor hiccups we have had nothing but quality work from Haw & Inglis.”
It was, in fact, this insistence on the highest quality that contributed to the delay.
The circular formation of the N1 on-ramp and the high traffic volumes expected, caused Haw & Inglis to take a decision to use a superior road surfacing containing significant proportions of bitumen.
“We have also received superior service and standards from BKS Engineering and Management, our geotechnical engineers SRK Consulting, and Doug Jeffrey Environmental Consultants, who did the initial environmental assessments,” Fleming added.
The roads project, that was tackled in three phases, was six years in the planning.
It not only provides Paarl residents with a direct route to the new Paarl Mall, but also makes leaving and entering Paarl on both the northbound and the southbound routes, much easier. It has effectually created a whole new access route to Paarl.
The on-ramp is 100% safe and operational and, together with the new N1 off-ramp that was completed some months ago, has transformed the gateways of South Africa’s third oldest town.
All that remains to be done is the landscaping of the banks - which will be undertaken just before the rainy season to ensure the successful planting of foliage.
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