NELSPRUIT – The roads agency TRAC announced early on Thursday morning that the Lebombo and Ressano Garcia border posts will be operating 24 hours in light of the coming holiday season.
In addition, the contractor, Raubex, stated that the the majority of roadworks on the Karino road up to Matsulu section have already been completed and remarking of the road was done where possible to provide additional passing lanes in both the east and west directions. Widening of the road at the Uitkyk intersection with the N4 is still underway.
The secopnd part of the construction on the N4 consists of the construction section through the Gorge, from Kanyamazane turn-off to Matsulu, having a 20 month construction period. This section has also progressed well considering the difficult working circumstances, including narrow working areas, heavy traffic volumes and high percentage of trucks as well as impatient and negligent drivers.
In order to reduce delays and to accommodate the expected drastic increase in traffic during the Christmas holiday break, no Stop-and-Go control points will be in place from 13 December 2013 until 5 January 2014 on this section. One lane per direction will be open for traffic during this period.
Experience has shown that the travelling public disregard common road safety principles and in an attempt to ensure maximum safety, reduced speed restriction will be in place throughout the Crocodile Gorge area during the December holidays. Motorists should keep safe following distances and adhere to the posted speed limits.
The third part of Raubex’s appointment for the rebuilding and upgrading of the N4 from Komatipoort to the Lebombo Border is also almost complete. Major works on the road were completed with only the finishing of the road reserve still outstanding. This includes the placement of guardrails and trimming, as well as grassing of the road reserve.
Apart from the rehabilitation work done, the Komatipoort junction with the N4 toll route also received a major upgrade to include slip lanes from Komatipoort’s approach to the N4 as well as a protected right turning lane towards the Sasol Filling Station, to improve both the safety and the capacity of this intersection.
In order to formalize and control the flow of traffic to and from the Lebombo Border, the previous railway sleepers made place for new kerbing from east of the Lebombo BP filling station area all the way to the border post entry point. This is expected to result in more orderly traffic flows and the reduction in illegal overtaking and driving on the wrong side of the road.
