Freeway improvement project sets 2011 deadline

Construction on the Gauteng freeway improvement project is progressing well with the first phase set to be completed by no later than 2011. According to Alex van Niekerk, manager: toll and traffic, northern region of the South African National Roads Agency Limited (Sanral), the first phase includes substantial upgrading of various interchanges as well as additional lanes to the freeway, while the second phase will see construction of 158km of new freeway for the province. Speaking at the monthly Transport Forum in Woodmead, Johannesburg last week, Van Niekerk said the project, which kicked off in June last year, was part of an integrated approach to improving Gauteng’s transport network. “The freeway upgrade is one part of it and not the entire solution. Together with Gautrain, the upgraded metrorail facilities and trains as well as the rapid bus system are all working together to provide the transport needs of the province.” He said while much of it was about addressing the congestion problems, it was also about introducing an integrated transport system to the economic hub of the country. Gauteng’s freeway network currently handles between 75 000 and 200 000 vehicles daily. “To handle the load and to ease congestion we are upgrading the freeways to four lanes per direction and in some instances up to six lanes per direction,” said Van Niekerk. “There are seven system interchanges that will be upgraded as well as 21 access interchanges, while the entire freeway network will be monitored by camera to ensure a safer and more reliable network.”