Plans afoot to relieve traffic on the N4

WATCH: Aerial footage of congestion at Karino

September 13, 2016

Mireille de Villiers 2 minutes read

MBOMBELA – Traffic congestion during peak times on the N4 remains a problem for motorists. The east-bound route handles heavy traffic daily, which is at times exacerbated by accidents.

Motorists who regularly use the road complain that, while the bulk of the vehicles travel between Mbombela and Malalane or Komatipoort, or to the Kruger National Park or Mozambique, the congestion is especially affected by public transport coming from KaNyamazane.

Instead of using the KaNyamazane Road, drivers often prefer the N4.

Vehicles have to access the busy road from the R538 at the Karino intersection. At present they can either use a slipway to turn left, or a stop street to turn right.

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When the turn-off was recently closed to strengthen the bridge, traffic on the N4 subsided a little, residents explained. Now, cars, buses, trucks and taxis are queuing here again.

Sometimes chances are taken. When a truck ploughed through the intersection recently, seven vehicles were damaged and nine people injured.

Yet, relief is in sight as improved access is being planned.

Ms Solange Soares-Nicholson, communications manager for Trans African Concessions (TRAC), explained, “Upgrading of the existing interchange is being planned.

“This upgrade will include on- and off-ramps. It will involve upgrading the existing intersection to a partial clover interchange with a link to the old Croc Valley Road.”

Only the N4 Toll Route was the responsibility of TRAC and the South African National Road Agency (Sanral). According to Soares-Nicholson, TRAC is considering widening the road to a four-lane dual carriageway, but it is dependent on funding being made available by Sanral.

She added that TRAC’s concern about the heavy traffic was overflow onto the N4.

“Although traffic on the N4 Toll Route has increased, currently the biggest challenge in this specific region is the increased volumes on the surrounding provincial roads which overflow onto the N4.

“This is largely attributed to the booming development which has taken place in the vicinity such as the establishment of the Karino Lifestyle Centre and Tekwane West Residential Estates, to name two.

“A significant increase in traffic volumes on provincial roads ultimately has an impact on the N4 Toll Route, and provincial roads need to be upgraded to accommodate such volumes in order to prevent congestion on their roads, as well as on the N4,” she concluded.