About Expertise Projects Responsibility Insights Careers

A globally connected workforce of specialists, operating out of more
than 40 countries

From the early pioneers on the Snowy Mountains Hydroelectric Scheme, to our leaders and innovators of today, our people make us who we are.

We align specialist expertise to deliver effective, practical and sustainable outcomes

Through our network of global specialists and by collaborating with local partners, we connect you with the best teams and capabilities to deliver highly innovative and sustainable solutions.

We're committed to positively impact the individuals and communities we work with

As an organisation we are continually evaluating ways we can better provide a safe, flexible, inclusive and respectful workplace for our people and clients.

Join an inclusive workplace rich in diverse thinking

People are at the heart of our organisation, we strive to create a flexible, diverse and inclusive environment that enables our people to thrive to their fullest potential.

Explore career opportunities
Asia
Azerbaijan Bangladesh Bhutan Brunei Cambodia China Georgia Hong Kong India Indonesia Kazakhstan Kuwait Kyrgyzstan Laos Macau Malaysia Mongolia Myanmar Nepal Pakistan Philippines Qatar Singapore Sri Lanka Tajikistan Timor-Leste Emirates Uzbekistan Vietnam
Africa
Angola Botswana Ethiopia Ghana Kenya Lesotho Liberia Madagascar Malawi Mauritius Morocco Mozambique Namibia Nigeria Rwanda Seychelles Sierra Leone South Africa South Sudan Swaziland Tanzania Uganda Zambia Zimbabwe
Australasia
Australia Fiji Kiribati New Zealand Papua New Guinea Samoa Solomon Islands Tonga Vanuatu
South America
Chile
SPA ENG
North America Mexico
Global
News
SMEC
South
Africa
appointed
to
National
Route
R521
road
upgrade
May 25, 2022
SMEC South Africa’s Roads and Highways team have been awarded a major contract from South African National Roads Agency Limited (SANRAL) for the upgrade of a portion of the National Route R521 – a heavily trafficked road in Polokwane which in some parts carries up to 23 000 vehicles per day. North of Polokwane, the road quietens down as it makes its way through the beautiful Limpopo Bushveld on the way to Alldays and Mapungubwe.
Client

South African National Roads Agency Limited (SANRAL)

Location

Limpopo province, South Africa

The upgrade of 29.9km of road running from Polokwane to Strydomsloop includes adding wide surfaced shoulders, several intersection upgrades, passing lanes to improve capacity and safety, and an access management plan. It is anticipated that major rehabilitation of four bridges and the addition of Non-Motorised Transport walkways in Polokwane’s Central Business District will form part of the upgrade. Construction is expected to start mid-2024 and will take an estimated 24 months to complete.

The R521 is the only route for many Limpopo residents to get access to employment opportunities in Polokwane and the route also functions as a gateway to the unique bushveld biosphere in northern Limpopo. Improving the condition of this road will not only benefit local residents but also the tourism industry and cross-border traffic headed for Botswana.

Speaking on value-add Warren McLachlan, Professional Engineer, Roads and Highways, says that on previous projects, SMEC developed innovative strategies for optimising the implementation of passing lanes on two-lane highways to get the most congestion-relieving benefit out of the same total area of pavement. “These strategies and lessons learned on previous projects will be applied to this appointment to maximise the public’s benefit from this upgrade.”

SMEC South Africa’s involvement in this route dates back to the 1980s when it was involved in the implementation and maintenance of routes under the jurisdiction of the old Transvaal Provincial Administration’s Roads Branch.

Recent
updates

View all
SMEC to support preservation of a unique ecosystem, Georgia

The Tbilisi Development Fund has engaged SMEC to develop the Dighomi floodplain rehabilitation strategy. The Dighomi Floodplain is an area of special conservation interest, which includes riparian forest, protected Otter habitat and other unique flora and fauna ecosystems that have been assessed as critical by the International Finance Corporate Performance Standard.

Read more Jul 04, 2023
SMEC engaged for power distribution modernisation project in Timor-Leste

SMEC has been contracted by Electricidade De Timor-Leste (EDTL) for the role of Project Supervision Consultants for the Power Distribution Modernisation Project in Timor-Leste. Supported by a loan from the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the project aims to assist EDTL in modernising the country’s power distribution system and strengthening institutional capacity.
Read more Jul 04, 2023
SMEC’s technical specialists present at the Australia and New Zealand Conference on Geomechanics 2023 in Cairns

Geotechnics will play a key role in helping our society achieve a safe, prosperous and sustainable future. Recent droughts have resulted in a need for more dam design and construction. Recent rainfall has resulted in extensive slop failures impacting our roads, rail and urban infrastructure. Energy transformation is driving large scale solar, wind and pumped hydro construction. These projects will all require geotechnical input to future plan for our communities.

Read more Jun 28, 2023
SMEC key leader in Social Value and Engagement presents at EIANZ 2023 Impact Assessment Symposium in Canberra

Richard Parsons, one of SMEC’s key leaders in Social Value and Engagement is presenting on their technical paper ‘Considering Social Impact Assessment from a public interest perspective - some critical questions’ at the Environmental Institute of Australia and New Zealand 2023 Impact Assessment Symposium in Canberra.
Read more Jun 26, 2023