A PROPOSED TOLL road that will open up tourism and agricultural development along the Wild Coast has been given the go-ahead by an environmental study. The project proposes to upgrade the existing N2 to Umtata where it will divert to the R61 to Port St Johns and will include 90km of new road construction through Pondoland to Mtamvuna. The road will then continue along the existing N2 to Durban. Four toll plazas are envisaged for the Eastern Cape -- near the Kei Bridge, the Mbashe River, the Tutor Ndamase Pass, and Mtentu. The proposed route alignment avoids sensitive areas as far as possible, will construct bridges in less sensitive areas, and avoids the coastal exclusion zone. Preferred alignment alternatives in the new road sections were chosen based on ecological and social factors. The draft Environmental Impact Assessment states that all potential negative impacts in the preferred alignment could be mitigated through design, construction and rehabilitation phases. This is despite a potential permanent loss of plant species of special concern, including endemics found in the Pondoland Centre of Endemism and species on the Red Data list. The EIA lists a number of concerns from the public and botanical experts about the impact on the road in Pondoland. The vegetation specialist report states that the more ecologically-acceptable alignment compromises within the greenfields (new road) areas would still result in significant impacts. The only alternative would be no road development through the Pondoland Centre. "If the N2 Wild Coast Toll Road were to be constructed through the Pondoland Centre of Endemism, it would have to become a real benefit to the region," the report says. The draft EIA lists potential positive impacts to be boosts to the Wild Coast's tourism industry, access to the area, and an improved, shorter route to KwaZulu-Natal. The vegetation report states that a road that avoided sensitive regions could be an asset to the region if the regions were developed as conservation areas and tourism centres. However even after mitigation, the impacts on the section of road from Magwa to Msikaba would be very severe and loss of species richness would definitely occur. Between 50 to 100 species would be permanently affected. The section from Msikaba to Mtentu would be similarly affected and with also high impacts on forests. Recommendations include further studies of the Msikaba and Mtentu valleys and gorges to ensure there was no impact on species of special concern. No details are yet available on the exact location of the plazas or the fees expected to be paid by motorists.