DEFECTS ON E1.2BN BYPASS ROAD

MBABANE – The E1.2 billion Mbabane Ngwenya bypass road could soon have structural failures as it is threatened by mudslides and soil erosion.
Serious gullies have been created on the slopes of the road because of heavy rains.

The crevices have been created at some areas in Sidwashini, the Mbangweni off-ramp and in some areas at Makholokholo.
Considering the frequent summer rains in Mbabane, the damage might cost the taxpayer further millions of Emalangeni to rehabilitate the road.

The bypass road was built by WBHO contractors to the tune of E1.2 billion. The initial cost of the road was about E345 million but the costs escalated.
First Environmental Consultants were the environmental consulting company and also served as consulting supervisors. 

The Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report points fingers at the Ministry of Public Works and Transport to rehabilitate the road. 
The report says after six years, the topping layer should be redone on the road as part of its maintenance. Cyril Kunene, Principal Secretary (PS) in the Ministry of Public Works and Transport, has admitted that they are aware of the gullies.

He said the ministry was at an advanced stage to get a contractor to address the environmental problems.
“We have noticed it through our own monitoring processes as a ministry. But, the community has also approached the ministry. We are at an advanced stage to procure a contractor to implement corrective measures. We hope to start work before the rainy season,” Kunene said.

Eric Olive, a member of the community policing forum in Sidwashini also raised a concern about the deep cuts in the slopes of road.
He appealed to the Ministry of Public Works and Transport to address the issue as soon as possible, because the cuts were deep and hazardous to their children.
“This road was expensive for the country, the government must address the erosion issue soon before it becomes expensive,” Olive said. “Our children are in danger here and the crevices can be a den of robbers who can harass our children.”

Gcina Dladla, Swaziland Environmental Authority’s Director of Policy, Planning, Research and Information, admitted that the erosion problem was an environmental issue which had the potential to damage the road.
“It is a general problem that affects such projects,” he said. “It’s a maintenance issue by the Ministry of Public Works and Transport, managing the storm water.

“I think the ministry should improve its maintenance activities because the damage threatens the infrastructure,” said Dladla.
According the African Development Bank (AfDB) appraisal report, the principal funders of the project, the project would contribute by providing an efficient and cost-effective transport system for both national and international traffic in the country.

It would also improve the quality of road transport services and reduce vehicle operating costs on the Mbabane bypass.
“The project is technically feasible, economically viable, and environmentally sustainable, using only quantifiable economic benefits. The bypass will foster better transport service levels and serve the most industrialised corridor in Swaziland and international route linking Swaziland,  the Republic of South Africa and Mozambique,” reads the report.

Government placed priority on infrastructure development.
In its Programme of Action 2013-2018, launched recently, Prime Minister Sibusiso Dlamini said the road infrastructure was the arterial system of the body of the economy and its improvements determined the effectiveness or our communications within Swaziland.

Dlamini said it was also a prime determinant in a country’s appeal to the foreign investor and had an enormous impact on the access of the enterprise to domestic and external markets.

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