Eswatini’s Ministry of Public Works & Transport has appointed India’s LEA Associates South Asia to update the feasibility study and detailed designs for the project to upgrade 51.4km of roads along the country’s northern road corridor in the Hhohho region.

Over the course of six months, the firm will study the feasibility of improving the Pigg’s Peak-Bulembu (MR20) road, which runs to the border with South Africa, and the Pigg’s Peak-Bulandzeni (MR2) route from gravel to surfaced roads.

The feasibility assessment will include economic, technical, environmental and social studies, along with the preparation of detailed engineering design and tender documents. The request for proposals was published in April 2024 and five bids were received.

The studies are being supported by the African Development Bank (AfDB) and are part of the scheme to develop the Manzini Golf Course Interchange, a critical node on Eswatini’s only east-west transboundary road corridor (MR3), which connects the country with South Africa (at Ngwenya) and Mozambique (at Lomahasha).

The project involved upgrading the junction to a grade-separated interchange at an estimated cost of US$37.5 million. Physical implementation has been completed by South African contractor Stefanutti Stocks and the interchange is now operational.

The interchange starts at the Manzini traffic circle with a service road that links the MR3 with the Central Distributor Road. It extends along the MR3 and northwards along the Central Distributor Road to the Madonsa Township access road. The total length of the road is about 3km.

The MR3 is a designated Southern African Development Community (SADC) regional route used as a facilitator for regional trade and integration. In addition, the MR3 also passes through Eswatini’s capital Mbabane, its second-largest city, Manzini, which also houses the central business district, and the industrial town of Matsapha. It also provides easy access to King Mswati III International airport, Eswatini’s gateway airport.

The Manzini Golf Course Interchange project is expected to be completed by June 2025 and is being financed by the AfDB and the Eswatini government. The scheme is in turn part of the upgrade of the 30km Manzini-Mbadlane highway on the MR3 from the existing two-lane single carriageway to a two-lane dual carriageway. The main roadworks were undertaken in two lots by the local Inyatsi Construction and a joint venture of the contractor and Kuwait’s SAK Construction and have been concluded.

Top photo: Eswatini roadworks (Source: Facebook @ Eswatini government)