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M1 and M2 road closures: Parts of Joburg CBD will be inaccessible on Heritage Day
Motorists will be directed to a diversion route until roads re-open at 12pm on Saturday.
Motorists will be directed to a diversion route until roads re-open at 12pm on Saturday. Photo: iStock
A planned full closure of the M1 and M2 and other roads in Johannesburg CBD will be implemented from Friday for the Absa race.
The Johannesburg Roads Agency released a full list of the streets in Newtown, Marshalltown and Braamfontein which will be closed for the Run Your City Joburg race.
Heritage Day race
Road closures
The 10km race will kick off at the Mary Fitzgerald Square in Newtown on Saturday.
The route will snake through Braamfontein and Marshalltown along the M1 and M2 East.
The closure begins at the Carr Street on-ramp on the M1 to the Joe Slovo Drive off-ramp on the M2 East. No unregistered vehicles will be allowed access.
Friday road closures
| Affected roads | Type | Times |
| Lilian Ngoyi: from Henry Nxumalo Str to Miriam Makeba Str | Full | 2pm to 12am on Friday |
| Rahima Moosa: from Miriam Makeba Str to Henry Nxumalo Str | Full | 2pm to 12am on Friday |
| Margaret Mcingana: from Rahima Moosa Str to Lilian Ngoyi Str | Full | 2pm to 12am on Friday |
The JRA said:
“Only registered race participants, event organising staff, JMPD officers, security staff and other personnel with the applicable accreditation will be allowed into this section of the motorway.”
JMPD officers will be managing traffic flow, and motorists will be directed to a diversion route until roads re-open at 12pm on Saturday.
Saturday road closures
| Affected roads | Type | Route until 12pm |
| Carr Str from Henry Nxumalo to Miriam Makeba | Eastbound | Vehicles exiting Newtown Junction to use Carr Str West. M1 N traffic diverted to Henry Nxumalo to CBD via Helen Joseph Str. Taxis toward taxi rank via Helen Joseph and Pixely Seme Str |
| Nelson Mandela Bridge between Carr and Bertha | Full Closure | No access |
| Queen Elizabeth offramp towards Nelson Mandela Bridge/ Berth Str intersection | Full closure | Traffic diverted to Smit Str underpass |
| Bertha Street from Nelson Mandela Bridge to De Korte Str | Full closure | Traffic from Juta and Station Streets to Smit Str exit. Traffic allowed southbound towards Bertha. No access from Nelson Mandela Bridge |
| M1 Southbound from Empire Road offramp to M2 East/Westbound split | Full closure | No access |
| M31 Heidelberg Road from Harro Road offramp, and End Str to Anderson Str offramp | Full closure | All traffic diverted to End Street, access via M31 Marshall Str |
| Simmonds Str from Main Street to Marshall Str | Four-Lane closure | Partially open to traffic crossing Marshall Str |
| Pixley Seme Str from Anderson Str to Marshall Str | Four-Lane closure | Partially open to traffic crossing Marshall Str |
| Ntemi Piliso Str from Fox Str to Helen Joseph Str | Full closure | Partially open to traffic crossing Market Str/Albertina Sisulu Road and Commissioner Str |
Post-pandemic excitement
The Run Your City Joburg 10K race – founded in 2016 – is hosted by Absa to celebrate Heritage Day. The route follows iconic landmarks in the Johannesburg CBD.
Gerda Steyn said she is “very excited” to take part in the race, “especially because it will be the first time since 2019 that this race will be hosted in Joburg on National Heritage Day.
“I cannot think of a better day to celebrate its return.”
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