THE POTENTIAL IMPACT ON PROPERTY AND SOCIO-ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT RESULTING FROM ROAD TRANSPORT CORRIDORS IN AFRICA: A CASE STUDY

misbe2011 Tracking Number 24

Prof Dries (AC) Hauptfleisch and Dr Hendrik Marx University of the Free State, South Africa ABSTRACT Keywords: Cost of corridors, development corridor, nodal points, property development, socio-economic development, spatial development initiatives. The development of road corridors are important, having extensive impacts, substantially wider than the cost of the actual road construction. The resultant property and broader socio-economic development is visible over a wide spectrum, but problematic to measure. In order to evaluate these impacts it is necessary to analyse the theoretical basis of corridor development and to measure and evaluate the outcomes. This was undertaken by tracking the possible development of corridors in Africa as a whole, and by specifically evaluating the outcomes of the Maputo Development Corridor (MDC) that stretches over 590km form the economic heartland in South Africa, to Maputo, the capital of Mozambique. An extensive literature review was undertaken, covering the period from inception in 1996, to the present. Quantified field studies were done and qualitative observations made. The outcome of the study indicates general consensus that many development objectives have been satisfied, whilst problems are encountered to establish extensive quantative data. It is relatively easy to determine impacts on traffic patterns, tourism, etc. However, it is very difficult to substantiate comprehensive socio-economic impacts, wealth creation and property development resulting directly from a corridor development. The so called “trickle down” effect is very evident, falling in the domain of “visual evidence and opinion” rather than hard quantative data. Whilst the cost to establish a corridor is determinable, the resultant financial rewards in a wider context is difficult to adjudicate.