The rehabilitation of National Route R34 Section 6 between Kroonstad (km 0.0) and Welkom (km 48.0) and the development of 4 borrow pits in the vicinity to service the required material resources for the rehabilitation work.

SANRAL is responsible for maintaining the South African National Road network and as such, has identified that the existing
pavement along the R34 is in a fair to poor condition whereby the proposed upgrade of the cross section will comprise of a
rehabilitation strategy to improve the condition thereof.
As a result of the road operating adequately as a four (4) lane facility, it is only projected that the road will need to be widened
to a six (6) lane facility by 2043 in order to accommodate any projected increases in traffic volumes along the route. As such,
the upgrade is proposed to widen the road, but yet maintain the four (4) lane configuration. The upgrade therefore aims to
improve the condition of the road and to ensure that the carrying capacity and safety of road users is maintained.
The major aspects of the project include the following:
• Expansion of the existing four (4) lane single carriageway (15.6m paved width) to a four (4) lane single carriageway (21m
paved width);
• Alternatives have been considered for the proposed upgrade;
• A concrete median barrier is being considered;
• The existing roadway may require rehabilitation;
• An asphalt pavement wearing course will be provided;
• One (1) river bridge and two (2) railway bridge structures require possible widening or replacement;
• Existing box and pipe drainage culverts require widening/ replacement;
• 4 borrow pits will be required and the landowners for the borrow pits have been notified.
• Possible land acquisitions due to the farmers land that may be required for the access roads and intersections;
• Stockpile areas and vegetation clearance outside of the road reserve in excess of one (1) hectare.
Alternatives for the upgrade were considered in the pre-engineering stage which were either to maintain the current undivided
single carriageway four (4) lane configuration, maintain a four (4) lane undivided carriageway configuration with the use of a
median barrier such as a rope or concrete barrier, or, implementing a divided four (4) lane configuration (dual carriageway). It
has been decided that a four-lane carriageway with a median rope barrier is the best option.
Province(s): Free State