Bakwena ready for winter school holiday traffic amid load-shedding
"To mitigate the impact of power outages, all toll plazas are equipped with backup power facilities, including uninterruptible power supplies (UPS) and generators."
Toll-road concessionaire Bakwena said that it was ready for winter school holiday traffic this month despite load-shedding.
Bakwena is responsible for managing 385km of the N1 and N4.
Under a 30-year Sanral concession agreement, it is in charge of overseeing the N1 route from Pretoria to Bela Bela, Limpopo and the N4 route from Pretoria to the Botswana border.
The firm said it has taken “proactive measures” to ensure efficient operations at its toll plazas.
Bakwena chief operating officer Solomon Kganyago said the company is fully prepared to accommodate the anticipated increase in traffic.
“Our top priority is to provide a safe and enjoyable journey for all motorists during this holiday season,” Kganyago said.
He said the firm has measures in place to ensure a safer travel experience for motorists.
“This includes a 24-hour call centre, on-the-spot emergency assistance, routine road maintenance and other safety-focused services,” he told Rekord.
Kganyago called on motorists to plan in advance for their winter school holiday travels.
As schools will resume classes on July 18, Kganyago warned there will be heavier traffic from Saturday, July 15.
“People will be returning home from vacation, school children will be returning as well and similar traffic numbers can be anticipated on Sunday, July 16.”
In addition to the school break, busier conditions are anticipated from Friday, August 4 owing to the public holiday on Wednesday, August 9.
Kganyago said Bakwena has measures in place to address potential disruptions that might be caused by load-shedding.
“To mitigate the impact of power outages, all toll plazas are equipped with backup power facilities, including uninterruptible power supplies (UPS) and generators,” he said.
He added that regular maintenance and operational replacements are carried out on this equipment.
The UPS systems are designed to sustain plaza operations for a reasonable duration until the generators are activated.
To guarantee a safe and comfortable trip throughout the holidays, drivers are urged to keep informed and follow the toll operator’s instructions.
“We deeply appreciate the cooperation of road users as we work together to navigate these challenges and make their winter getaway memorable,” said Kganyago.
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