Rehabilitation of road to Drakensberg begins

THE Free State Department
of Roads and Transport is
in the process of appointing
a contractor to rehabilitate
the R74, viewed as the
gateway to the Drakensberg
Mountains.
Tourism establishments in
the area saw occupancies
drop during the past few
years as a result of the poor
state of the R74. Some,
including Little Switzerland
Resort and Sungubala Lodge,
closed their doors as tourists
started to avoid the area.
Hillary Mophete, roads
department spokesperson,
told TNW progress was
being made and a tender to
rehabilitate and reconstruct
the R74 between Harrismith
and Oliviershoek was officially
published on October 10.
Work is expected to start
early this month, provided
there are no delays caused
by weather.