JRA warns of M1 traffic nightmare
Johannesburg - There is going to be pain for motorists - and a lot of it - until May 2017.
|||Johannesburg - There is going to be pain for motorists - and a lot of it - until May 2017.
This was the warning from Johannesburg Roads Agency acting managing director Mpho Kau on Thursday, who added it was a case of “no pain, no gain”.
He was speaking at the announcement of drastic lane closures, detours and restrictions along the M1 in the coming months.
These roadworks are going to affect thousands of people travelling daily in cars, minibus taxis, trucks and public transport.
Kau’s message was clear - plan your trip, use alternative routes or use public transport. Motorists should plan to allow for at least an additional 30 minutes of travel time to reach their destinations.
“Road users are urged to be aware of when and where the major construction activities will take place and to plan their journeys in advance,” he said.
“Mobile applications can be downloaded from Google Maps and Tom Tom to assist commuters in choosing the best roads and travel times. Detailed information will also be freely available on the JRA website, print, electronic and social media and through traffic updates on radio stations.”
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN
Kau said the work would have an impact on traffic along one of the busiest freeways in Africa, but the JRA had put in place a comprehensive plan to manage the impact and cause minimum disruption.
The contractors doing the work all have comprehensive incident-management plans on hand, which will include having tow-trucks on site 24 hours a day in case of accidents. Towed vehicles will be immediately removed and taken to a central location in the CBD to prevent further delays.
The rehabilitation involves three bridges on the M1 freeway. The two sections of the road most affected will be the double-decker section of the M1, between Carr and Anderson streets in the city centre, where work will include rehabilitation and structural repairs, asphalt surfacing, expansion joints, drainage systems and new road signs.
In addition, the Federation and Oxford Road bridges will undergo major facelifts. A two-kilometre section of the dual carriage freeway between Rockridge and Federation roads will be rehabilitated and the existing stormwater drainage system replaced.
The cost of these rehabilitation projects will be R210 million. The Oxford and Federation Road bridge construction should end by February 2017, while improvements on the double-decker section will finish in May 2017.
Kau said this was the largest project of its kind ever managed by the JRA.
KEY ARTERIAL
City of Johannesburg mayoral committee member for transport Christine Walters said this section of the freeway was a key arterial through the heart of Joburg, daily carrying about 80 000 private cars, commercial traffic and public transport - such as buses and taxis - all vital to the growth of this important economic hub.
“A world-class city must be served by world-class infrastructure," she said. "The upgrades we are doing now will benefit the city for decades to come and ensure the safe movement of people, goods and services.
“We apologise for the disruptions and delays, but also assure road users that we are doing everything we can to minimise the inconvenience and ensure safe journeys for all,” she said.
She appealed to all motorists to display patience and courtesy.
During the construction period, certain changes will be made:
The northbound carriageway of the M1 - carrying traffic from Soweto and the M2 - will be reduced to two lanes between the St Andrews off-ramps and Killarney from February 29 to December 31.
The southbound carriageway of the M1 - carrying traffic from Midrand - will be reduced to two lanes between the Killarney and St Andrews off-ramps from April 3 to December 31.
The southern on-ramp onto the M1 from Oxford Road will be closed at Ettrick Road from April 3.
The Oxford Road off-ramp from the M1 travelling northbound is to be closed from August 13. Work will be stepped up in the evenings and at weekends. - The Star
Roadworks tips to help motorists
The JRA will continue to inform the public of latest developments, journey-planning tips, alternative routes and traffic advisories on its various contact points:
Website: www.jra.org.za
Twitter: @MyJra
Facebook: Johannesburg Roads Agency
E-mail: hotline@jra.org.za