The section of the N2 that gave way to a 50-metre deep sinkhole just over a year ago has been repaired and was opened to the public this week.
The section of the N2 that gave way to a 50-metre deep sinkhole just over a year ago has been repaired and was opened to the public this week.
The site contractor of Penny Farthing Engineering, Jano Michau, told Grocott's Mail that the road was officially opened on Tuesday 26 November.
Transport MEC Thandiswa Marawu was invited to the official opening but she was unable to attend.
However, Michau said a senior official from the South African National Roads Agency Limited (Sanral), Simon Peters, was there.
The new road now has a rest area with two tables and chairs.
Michau said Penny Farthing was in charge of doing the road's routine maintenance as well as building the bypass.
It was almost exactly a year ago that an emergency bypass road between Grahamstown and Port Elizabeth opened up just in time for the festive season.
Marawu officially opened the bypass on 30 November after part of the road about 25km south of Grahamstown collapsed in heavy rains on 20 October 2012.
One person was killed in the aftermath of a car accident at the site of the sinkhole where rescue workers rushing to the scene narrowly escaped becoming victims themselves as the road collapsed.
It is believed flood waters building up after weeks of persistent rains last October had eroded the earthworks on one side of the raised embankment supporting the main highway between Port Elizabeth and East London.
The embankment had collapsed, taking the tarmac with it.
