Council approval paves way for uninterrupted road maintenance | Council approval paves way for uninterrupted road maintenance | | <img alt="" src="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/cityassets/PublishingImages/City%20news.jpg" style="BORDER:0px solid;" /> | <p>The City’s Urban Mobility Directorate obtained Council’s approval earlier today to enter into long-term contracts, spanning a period of seven financial years, to facilitate uninterrupted and regular maintenance and rehabilitation of approximately 10 400km of roads under the City’s management. Read more below:<br></p> | <p>The recent and ongoing torrential rains have highlighted the vulnerability of infrastructure to extreme weather events. </p><p>‘Illegal dumping into the stormwater system caused many of the blockages we have experienced over the past weeks, and as a result some roads flooded because the runoff from heavy rainfall could not be diverted. This, combined with the staggering volumes of water from continuous rainfall, have been a recipe for a perfect storm. </p><p>‘Our Road Infrastructure Management (RIM) teams have been working non-stop over the past few weeks, clearing blockages and stormwater inlets in anticipation of the cold fronts. This work comes to none if the rampant abuse of our stormwater network continues.</p><p>‘That aside, I am elated that earlier today Council approved our request to enter into contracts with six companies for a period of seven financial years, to allow for regular road maintenance and rehabilitation of approximately 10 400km of roads under the City’s management,’ said the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Urban Mobility, Councillor Rob Quintas.</p><p>This permission will allow the RIM department to do planned routine road maintenance without any interruptions or delays, until 30 June 2030, when the seven-year period comes to an end.</p><p>‘Our road network is one of our biggest assets. It ensures that people, goods, and services are mobile, and facilitates economic growth and job creation. We have to look after this asset, as failing to do so has dire consequences, as we have recently seen in KwaZulu-Natal,’ said Councillor Quintas.</p><p>The existing framework contract for professional services is sufficient for smaller projects.</p><p>However, this three-year framework contract becomes problematic for larger rehabilitation, reconstruction and upgrade projects. </p><p>The investigation and design stages can easily take up to 24 months to complete, followed by a procurement process that takes roughly 12 months before construction can even commence. Then, the construction stage itself can take anywhere between 12 and 24 months, depending on the project size, resulting in a total project life cycle of between three and five years. </p><p>‘For projects of this scale, a three-financial year contract period is inefficient and carries inherent continuity risks. A new service provider has to be appointed during one of the project stages, typically during procurement or execution. Not only does this make for awkward transitions of project leadership, it can lead to costly delays and contractual claims if a replacement service provider is not secured before the existing contract expires.</p><p>‘Thus, it is critical that the services of a consistent team of specialist civil engineering professionals are in place, with contract periods not exceeding seven financial years. I want to thank Council for their approval today as this will allow us to do our job more effectively and efficiently, and it will save the City unnecessary expenses,’ said Councillor Quintas.</p><p>End<br></p> | 2023-06-19T22:00:00Z | GP0|#1d539e44-7c8c-4646-887d-386dc1d95d70;L0|#01d539e44-7c8c-4646-887d-386dc1d95d70|City news;GTSet|#62efe227-07aa-45e7-944c-ceebacca891d | | | | | | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | 0 |