The Department of Rural Development and Land Reform required a civil engineering consultancy firm to provide project management, design, and construction monitoring services for the upgrade of a gravel road (Road D2237) between Driefontein and Donkerhoek, to an asphalt surfaced road. In addition, the appointed service provider was required to act as an occupational health and safety agent on behalf of the department and to manage the geotechnical investigations and topographical survey.

Delta BEC was appointed to provide civil engineering services for the Driefontein Road upgrade project.

The road that needed to be upgraded was a 6.8 km gravel road that links Driefontein and Donkerhoek in Mpumalanga Province. It was a dual lane carriageway, undivided road which was originally 9 m wide. The road showed signs of distress, mainly due to erosion and corrugation, which was observed over the entire length of the road. The required works included road widening, the reconstruction of road layers, asphalt or block paved surfacing, and improvement of the very dilapidated stormwater drainage system.

The department required that the upgrade of the road produce certain benefits such as facilitating economic and social development within the surrounding communities by supporting cooperatives and local business, improving access and mobility within the community, and creating construction job opportunities.