THE EASTERN CAPE government spent R268,8million and created 756 jobs in upgrading the road network in the province during 2001, according to Road and Public Works MEC Phumulo Masualle. He told the provincial legislature that five major projects were being implemented. "We spent R41-million on a 28 kilometre road from Idutywa to Willowvale, R72-million on a 16.3 kilometre road from Ntafufu to Port St Johns, R63-million on a 16.5km road from Cala to Elliot and R92.8m on a 22.7 kilometre road from Maclear to Mount Fletcher.'' He said these projects mainly involved upgrading gravel roads. Masualle said there were also reconstruction and rehabilitation projects, including the recently-awarded Ndabakazi to Tsomo road worth R100-million. He said the emergency reconstruction programme was going well. "The cumulative effect of these projects has untold spin-offs in creating jobs, promoting local industries and entrepreneurs,'' he said.