MFA was appointed by a local municipality to undertake a comprehensive civil upgrade of a mixed-use urban corridor in Ekurhuleni — rehabilitating deteriorated road surfaces, upgrading stormwater infrastructure and installing new brick paving to revitalise the area's public realm.
Project Background
The targeted urban zone had suffered years of deferred maintenance. Road surfaces were severely potholed, drainage channels were blocked and silted, and pedestrian areas were unsafe. Following community pressure, the municipality prioritised the corridor for a full civil upgrade and appointed MFA through its CIDB-graded contractor database.
The project required live traffic management throughout — roads could not be fully closed, so construction was phased lane by lane with temporary surfacing maintained at all times.
Scope of Work
- 1.8 km of road reconstruction — full-depth reclamation, new sub-base, asphalt surfacing and line marking
- Replacement of 640 linear metres of blocked stormwater culverts and kerbing
- 1 200 m² of new interlocking brick paving on pedestrian walkways and market forecourt areas
- Installation of 18 new stormwater inlets and connection to the existing municipal reticulation
- Traffic management, signage and road markings throughout the construction period
Challenges & Solutions
The existing sub-base was found to be significantly weaker than the pre-tender investigation indicated — with several sections requiring full removal and replacement to 500mm depth rather than the planned 300mm. MFA submitted a variation order with supporting CBR test results and continued construction without delays while the variation was assessed, ensuring the programme was not impacted.
Traffic management during peak trading hours required close coordination with the municipality's traffic department. MFA deployed two dedicated traffic marshals during school hours and market days throughout the project.
Outcome
The project was handed over seven months after commencement, meeting the municipal council's deadline before the start of the rainy season. Post-completion inspection by the municipality's roads department recorded zero defects, and the area was officially reopened at a community event attended by the ward councillor.
"MFA delivered a project that transformed this area. The community response has been overwhelmingly positive. Their site team managed traffic and community relations exceptionally well."