Work continues on Wild Coast highway

Work is progressing despite ongoing public criticism about what the South African National Roads Agency (Sanral) describes as “one of its most ambitious” projects – the 410-kilometre highway between East London and the KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) south coast, which will include the first tollbooths in the Eastern Cape.Opposition to the route is primarily on the environmental impact of the road and resulting population shifts.The Amadiba Crisis Committee (ACC) is calling for an alternative inland route, claiming that the project has the potential to disrupt a unique ecosystem and disrupt local economies, including tourism and agriculture.There have also been delays due to contractors in 2019 halting work and declaring force majeure on a R1.6bn Mtentu Bridge contract due to interference from construction mafia.Construction of the 260-metre-long and 260-metre-high bridge recommenced under a Chinese contractor in 2023, with the price going up to R4.05bn. In August 2024, Sanral announced the start of Package 4 of what is known as the N2WCR project, adjacent to Lusikisiki and between the Lingeni intersection and the Msikaba Bridge.There is no definite timeline for the completion of the road, with Sanral’s regional manager for the Southern Region, Mbulelo Peterson, telling the media that Packages 1, 2 and 3 of the N2WCR were in design.The northern route via Matatiele is being upgraded through a R1.2bn project to build a four-lane highway between the town and the KZN border past Cedarville, due to be completed in August 2026.The N2 link between Nelson Mandela Bay and Cape Town is also being upgraded. ER