IN TWEETS: Residents urged to use alternative routes as M2 bridge undergoes restructuring

Johannesburg mayor, Herman Mashaba has on 18 February announced the closure of the M2 motorway between Crown Interchange and Maritzburg Street, the bridge is set to close on the 28 February. 

Mashaba said the closure of the bridge was due to safety reasons. The mayor revealed that only  6 per cent of the City of Johannesburg’s bridges were in a good condition.

Mashaba added that he was assured by the Joburg Roads Agency that the work on the bridge would start on 28 February and was expected to be concluded by October as everyone would be working around the clock.

We face massive inherited infrastructure backlogs in @CityofJoburgZA. The cost for bridges alone is sitting at over R6,5 billion. The closure is being implemented so as to ensure the safety of our residents. #M2FullClosure

— Herman Mashaba (@HermanMashaba) February 18, 2019

“The closure is necessitated by the continuous monitoring and the bridge visual conditions assessment which indicated that the structural integrity of the concrete elements is severely reduced,” said the Joburg Roads Agency in a tweet.

@CityofJoburgZA statement –
Closure of the M2 Motorway for rehabilitation.

The City has taken the decision to close the M2 motorway between Crown Interchange and Maritzburg Street. #M2FullClosure pic.twitter.com/rwSUirI36X

— Herman Mashaba (@HermanMashaba) February 18, 2019

The agency advised motorists to use alternative routes. These include the Village Road off-ramp, northern on-ramp onto the M2 eastbound, Maritzburg Street off-ramp and West Street on-ramp onto the M2 travelling west towards Main Reef or south towards Soweto.

Motorists are advised to make alternative travel plans. West bound traffic travelling towards Roodepoort from the east, keep on the N3 and make use of the N12 to access areas to the west and south of the City. #M2FullClosure @CityofJoburgZA @CoJTransport

— Joburg Roads Agency (@MyJRA) February 18, 2019

A traffic accommodation plan is in place for residents to use alternative routes. The rehabilitation work should conclude in October #M2bridgeclosure

— Herman Mashaba (@HermanMashaba) February 18, 2019

The safety of the Selby bridge cannot be guaranteed for continuous use by motorists and thus the decision for a closure of the M2 between Crown Interchange and Maritzburg street is necessary. #M2FullClosure @CityofJoburgZA @CoJTransport

— Joburg Roads Agency (@MyJRA) February 18, 2019

The rest of the alternative routes that motorists can make use of can be found on the @MyJRA Twitter account.

Related article: 

https://northeasterntribune.co.za/207249/m1-bridge-revamp-finally-done/