Traffic congestion on Pitts Avenue (R55), near Kyalami Corner, continues to frustrate motorists, workers, and parents travelling along the busy route, with severe delays affecting both directions daily.

Roadworks on the left-hand side of the R55 near Kyalami Corner, approaching from the Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit side, had exacerbated the congestion. Parts of the road were reduced to a single lane, significantly slowing traffic flow during peak hours and leaving commuters stuck in lengthy backlogs.

Residents said the delays had become increasingly unbearable, with some motorists spending between 20 and 30 minutes in traffic where travel would normally take far less time.

Read more:  Roadworks and rush hour chokes R55 traffic

Resident Reginald Jacob said the daily congestion had become difficult to endure.

“There are roadworks on the R55 near Kyalami Corner, resulting in the R55 being narrowed down to one lane. It has been like that for about two weeks now, and it looks like the road is narrowed, but no work is being done,” said Jacob. “The nightmare of traffic congestion is becoming unbearable.”

The backlog had also led to risky behaviour by some motorists trying to bypass the traffic. Frustrated drivers, particularly taxi operators, have reportedly been using oncoming lanes and even driving through barricaded construction areas in an attempt to avoid delays.

JMPD spokesperson Superintendent Xolani Fihla confirmed that authorities were aware of the persistent congestion along the R55.

“This route is a major artery that carries a high volume of vehicles, especially during peak morning and evening times… The main causes include the large number of commuters travelling between Johannesburg, Midrand, and Pretoria, combined with the infrastructure capacity during these busy periods,” said Fihla.

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He said JMPD had received several complaints and concerns about delays in the area. “The JMPD monitors traffic patterns and gathers feedback from the public to help prioritise deployment strategies where they are most needed.

“Officers are regularly deployed to manage and oversee traffic along the R55. However, due to current manpower shortages, we are unable to maintain a daily physical presence at this location. We aim to rotate our available resources to cover as many high-traffic points across the city as possible.”

Fihla added that JMPD was working with OUTsurance’s Traffic Free Flow to improve safety and traffic movement along the route.

“This partnership facilitates better coverage and assistance in directing vehicles, thereby improving flow during peak times. We will continuously assess the situation and deploy officers when resources allow to ensure road safety and adherence.”

Lead 2 headline: Department confirms contractor remains on site as R55 congestion persists.

Ward 132 councillor Annette Deppe had alleged that the contractor responsible for the provincial road maintenance project had abandoned the site, despite the work being expected to be completed before the end of March.

According to Deppe, the roadworks on the R55 were undertaken to repair a sinking section of road. However, after workers were allegedly absent from the site for weeks and attempts to get feedback from the department went unanswered, she believed the project had been abandoned.

Speaking during a site visit on March 17, Deppe said, “We have been watching this project since it started about a month and a half ago. For the last three weeks, there’s been nobody on this side.

Also read: Glen Austin residents slam authorities over traffic neglect

“I was told the week before it rained that they would be finished that week. And then it rained, and it has been two weeks since we have had rain, and there’s been nobody on site. So it’s a provincial maintenance project, and they’ve abandoned the site.”

Deppe said the incomplete roadworks were making an already congested route even worse, with traffic backing up heavily from both directions during peak periods.

“Parents from these areas who bring their children to schools on this side of the road now have to sit in traffic every morning. A school run that should take 15 minutes is now taking close to an hour,” she said.

“Where is the province? Where is this contractor? We need them to come back and finish this job. We cannot have traffic sitting like this every day, morning and night.”

On March 19, the Gauteng Department of Roads and Transport confirmed that surfacing work had begun on the road, following the allegations that the long-delayed maintenance project had been abandoned.

Department spokesperson Lesiba Mpya said, “The RIFSA 1&2 contractor is on-site…Unfavourable weather is contributing to the delays… The team will monitor and ensure we complete [the repairs.”

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