Cape toll proposal moves up a gear

Anna Cox THE ENVIRONMENTAL impact assessment for the R3,5 billion N1/N2 Winelands toll road has been completed. Large volumes of import and export traffic, as well as tourist, recreational and commuter traffic, move on the N1, N2 and N7 highways linking the Western Cape to the rest of the country. The proposal is to upgrade and toll sections of the N1 and N2 national routes. The upgrading project will run 106km along the N1 from the Old Oak interchange just west of the R300 through to Sandhills at the Hex River Valley and along the N2 from just west of the R300 through to Bot River, a distance of 70 km. The roads will be widened in certain sections, new interchanges constructed and new infrastructure installed. Most of the current infrastructure in the area is between 20 to 30 years old and deteriorating rapidly. The proposal for the upgrading and tolling was made by the Protea Parkways Consortium. The South African National Roads Agency will now ascertain the financial, technical and environmental feasibility of the proposal which will then be put to open tender.