Joburg roads get a massive revamp

JOHANNESBURG – Starting next month, there are going to be massive traffic disruptions on several of the city’s roads and highways, in particular the M1 and M2, as the Johannesburg Roads Agency (JRA) does bridge and highway upgrades and attends to maintenance.

Independent Online (IOL) reported, “During the JRA’s recent inspections of 814 bridges in the city, with an asset value of R15 billion, the agency found that some required rehabilitation – upgrades, construction and expansion.”

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The affected routes include the Oxford, Federation and double-decker bridges on the M1 and M2 and the Nelson Mandela, Booysens Road, Queen Elizabeth and Le Roux Avenue bridges.

In addition, R50 million has been allocated to the resurfacing of the M1, while R10m will be spent on improvements to the M2.

According to the report, R222m will be spent this year on resurfacing roads. Work is also under way on the Naledi Bridge in Soweto to link the communities of Naledi and Protea.

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Pedestrian bridges in Soweto, which are prone to flooding, including the Jabulani/Molapo, Kinini-Leselinyala, Zulu, Mzilikazi, Kaalfontein, Klipspruit West, Slovo Park and Diepsloot bridges, will be raised above the flood line.

Motorists face road closures and lane restrictions, but the JRA has appealed for patience.

Deputy managing director Mpho Kau was quoted as saying, “Roads and bridges form a critical part of the transport infrastructure of a city, thus their maintenance and rehabilitation is important.

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“It ensures that the movement of people, as well as goods and services, continues effectively and efficiently.”

The roads entity has undertaken to communicate the planned road closures, lane restrictions and alternative routes to motorists regularly.

October, which is Transport Month, is expected to be particularly difficult as most roads around Sandton will be closed to traffic due to the Ecomobility Festival.

The major upgrade plans were announced on Thursday morning by mayor Parks Tau.

He said the improvements were part of the city’s R110bn investment into infrastructure directed at changing the spatial design of the metropolitan in a bid to ease congestion and flooding on the city’s roads.

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