Construction on the N1N4 resumes after 6-week delay due to the COVID-19 nationwide lockdown

Bakwena Platinum Corridor Concessionaire (Pty) Ltd (Bakwena) confirms that construction along the N1N4 route has resumed after experiencing a delay of 6 weeks due to the COVID-19 nationwide lockdown.

Stringent measures were put in place by the contractor Raubex/Enza Construction (Pty) Ltd to ensure compliance with COVID-19 back to work regulations. Some of these measures include:

Start-up return

• Compliance of social distancing requirements
• All employees with uncontrolled chronic conditions were requested to stay home till adequate proof is provided that they have their condition under control
• Upon arrival, all employees were provided with the relevant PPE’s (2 x reusable cloth masks, sanitiser (alcohol-based – 70%) and a health risk assessment was carried out by the site agent including a recording of their temperature
• Employees were practically trained how to wash their hands with soap and if available hand sanitiser
• All employees were trained on COVID-19 inductions, procedure, risk assessment, precautionary measures and refresher induction training on Safety, Health and Environment was provided.
• All transport to the site will be carried out in line with the current COVID 19 regulations which restricts the number of passengers permitted on the bus.

On-site

• Daily health risk assessments and screening of temperatures are being recorded at the start of each workday
• Any employee who has a temperature of 38 degrees Celsius and above or experiencing any of the identified symptoms (fever, headache, joint and muscle aches, sore throat, tiredness, etc) will immediately be isolated from the other employees via a mobile isolation unit and the Safety Officer will be informed and the patient will be managed in accordance with the prescribed COVID-19 regulations for testing
• Where possible essential physical work that requires close contact between workers should not be carried out.
• All employees will wear face masks at all times and re-usable PPE should be cleaned thoroughly after use and not shared between workers
• All employees are required to wash/sanitize their hands at their respective areas regularly
• Foreman vehicles are equipped with soap, sanitizer and towels where employees working under them can wash their hands during the day or as required
• Foremen will ensure sufficient soap and 70% alcohol-based sanitizer will easily be made available to all employees working under them
• Construction teams will be localised on-site and remain static with no migration between teams
• A dedicated ablution facility will be available to each Foreman for their specific labourers
• Operators and drivers of equipment are prohibited to carry passengers
• The machinery of operators to be cleaned on a regular basis

All Operators and others involved in the construction industry are required to comply and meet the requirements of the COVID-19 work regulations.

The current upgrade, which includes the addition of a 32km of a second carriageway on the N4 between the M17 and R512 (Brits Interchange), with an expected completion date of June 2021 is still on track. Bakwena’s commercial manager, Solomon Kganyago, says that these are challenging times for all industries and there are many who have suffered enormous losses due to the effects of the nationwide lockdown. All planned rehabilitation on the N1N4 has been postponed and the future dualling of the N4 from Buffelspoort to the R24 start date may be delayed.