Mpumalanga plans heavy vehicle road network

LEONARD NEILL
A DEDICATED road network for the use of heavy vehicles is on the planning boards in Mpumalanga. The heavily used Maputo Corridor is the prime focus with other major routes to be included. The new roads will be used only by trucks and commercial vehicles, says provincial roads and transport MEC David Mabuza. The aim is to preserve existing roads for lighter vehicles. In many instances these roads are already in poor condition because of the huge volume of traffic they carry, he says. “We will be able to improve the quality of our roads if we build the dedicated new network,” he says. Weighbridges are planned on all new routes and every vehicle would have to pass through these, he said. Toll gates will be introduced on the new routes which will help finance repair work.