Residents of Mzamomhle and the Quenera Lagoon area are set to benefit from improved mobility and safer travel as work on the long-awaited upgrading of the Quenera Lagoon Access Road continues to make steady progress.
Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality Executive Mayor Princess Faku recently visited the construction site to assess progress on the project and engage with officials overseeing its implementation. The visit highlighted the visible strides being made towards transforming the existing gravel road into a modern, asphalt-surfaced route.
The road upgrade forms part of the Municipality’s broader infrastructure master plan, which seeks to improve connectivity, strengthen service delivery and create an environment that supports economic development across Buffalo City. The project involves the upgrading of approximately four kilometres of road. Once completed, the route will include pedestrian sidewalks, street lighting and stormwater infrastructure, including pipes, open channels and culverts. These improvements are expected to contribute to safer and more reliable travel for residents, pedestrians and motorists.
Mayor Faku welcomed the progress made on the project, describing the road as an important investment in the future of the surrounding communities. “This road is much more than a transport route. It is a catalyst for development and a gateway to new opportunities for the people of Mzamomhle and Quenera Lagoon,” said Mayor Faku.
The project has been years in the making and has been made possible through collaboration between BCMM and the Eastern Cape Department of Transport, which provided funding in 2025 to co-fund the upgrade. The Department remains the custodian of the road.
Construction on Phase One is now nearing completion, with street lighting installation already approximately 90 percent complete. Overall construction is progressing steadily, with the Municipality expecting Phase One to be completed by the end of August.
Importantly, progress is already being made towards the next stage of the project. Planning and design work for Phase Two, which will cover a further 3.2 kilometres, is underway. This will allow the Municipality to maintain momentum and work towards the eventual upgrading of the full route.
The project is being implemented by Devomix Construction and includes opportunities for local labour, ensuring that the investment also contributes to communities through employment opportunities during construction.
Looking beyond the current project, the Municipality has a long-term vision for the corridor to eventually accommodate increased development and traffic. This includes the possibility of transforming the route into a dual carriageway as the area grows.
With Phase One approaching completion and Phase Two already in planning, the Quenera Lagoon Access Road project represents tangible progress towards improved infrastructure and connectivity. Once fully completed, the upgraded road is expected to support safer movement, stimulate economic activity and contribute to the continued development of not only the Quenera area but the Buffalo City Metro.
