Highway traffic preparations underway for Easter period

As locals prepare to travel over the school holidays and the Easter period, Trans African Concessions (TRAC) and Bakwena Platinum Corridor Concessionaire have begun preparations to manage traffic and promote road safety along the N1 and N4 routes.

On the N1, Bakwena has implemented a comprehensive Easter traffic plan to improve traffic flow and enhance safety.

Key measures include the suspension of major roadworks during peak travel days, increased law enforcement visibility, and additional patrols along the route.

Bakwena has also warned of high traffic volumes during peak periods and encouraged motorists to plan their departures outside of the busiest times to avoid congestion.

The most congested periods are expected on April 2 from 12:00–21:00, April 3 from 06:00–15:00, and April 6 from 12:00–21:00.

Drivers are encouraged to rest every two hours or 200km to reduce fatigue-related incidents.

COO Solomon Kganyago emphasised that road safety depends on responsible driver behaviour.

“The road is a shared space, and a single good decision can save lives,” he said.

He also urged road users to obey speed limits, wear seatbelts, and ensure both they and their vehicles are roadworthy before travelling.

To ease congestion at toll plazas, Bakwena accepts card, cash, and Sanral tag payments, with the tag remaining the fastest option.

Motorists are encouraged to top up their tag accounts before travelling, with facilities available along the N1 and N4, and at the Bakwena Hatfield office in Pretoria.

In case of emergencies, drivers can contact Bakwena’s 24-hour helpline on 0800 BAKWENA and are advised to use nearby kilometre markers to share their location accurately.

TRAC which manages the N4 toll route which connects Gauteng, South Africa and the Maputo port, has also provided advice for motorists.

It urged N4 road users to plan their journeys in advance and allow for possible delays along the route.

Solange Soares, TRAC Communications Manager said several upgrade and rehabilitation projects are currently underway along the N4 as part of TRAC’s ongoing commitment to maintaining a safe and reliable corridor.

“While construction activities will pause from April 1–7, all road construction zones will remain active and traffic-control measures will stay in place, in line with road safety requirements,” said Soares.

She said with multiple projects at various stages of completion along the route, motorists may still encounter traffic in certain areas and are encouraged to plan ahead and allow additional travel time where necessary.

Traffic volumes are also expected to increase drastically over the Easter weekend.

To accommodate this, Soares said all TRAC N4 toll plazas will be fully staffed during identified peak dates of April 2–7 .

“Road users are also reminded that all existing payment methods remain available at all TRAC toll plazas along the N4,” she added.

Soares mentioned that in partnership with the TRAC Helpdesk, the teams will respond to incidents, with additional units strategically stationed in high-traffic areas on peak travel days.

TRAC reminds road users that while it supports congestion relief near the border, all port of entry operations are managed by government authorities.

She said to support traffic flow, the Easter traffic management plan for the border posts will run from March 27–April 12, with one-stop border processing at KM7 from March 27–April 4.

“Key measures include a roadblock at the Coopersdal intersection, a control point at the entrance of KM7 where all vehicles will be classified.

“Light vehicles en route to the border will proceed directly, loaded light delivery vehicles (bakkies) and taxis will be diverted through the Komatipoort load control centre and processed at KM7 before being escorted to the border.

“Trucks will continue to utilise the KM7 staging area, with dedicated lanes for vehicles transporting perishable goods,” said Soares.

She added that in the event of a blockage on the N4 in South Africa the following measures will take effect: eastbound traffic will use Tenbosch Road to reach Komatipoort, while westbound traffic will use Strydomblock and Coopersdal to reach Malalane.

Pedestrian processing will take place at the pedestrian processing office, with South African and Mozambican officials operating from the same location from March 27–April 4.

Soares stated that additional processing areas have been identified to help manage increased volumes and reduce queues.

TRAC CEO Alex van Niekerk urged travellers to prioritise road safety and make use of TRAC’s 24-hour helpdesk for assistance or route-related information.

“Easter is a time when families travel long distances to spend time together, and road safety must remain everyone’s top priority, TRAC is committed to keeping the N4 safe and operational, but every driver plays a part.

“Plan your trip properly, avoid drinking and driving, take breaks if you feel tired, and respect the rules of the road. If we all do our part, we can make this Easter a safer one for everyone,” said Van Niekerk.

Soares said TRAC encourages road users to plan their journeys carefully and, where possible, travel during daylight to reduce risks such as road spiking or other criminal activities.

Travellers are also reminded to reach out to the TRAC Helpdesk that manages TRAC’s free 24-hour roadside assistance units, TRACAssist, in the event of any incident or emergency along the Maputo Corridor.

They can contact toll free TRAC 24-hour Helpdesk on 0800 87 22 64 or 082 881 4444. For real-time traffic updates on the TRAC N4, travellers can follow @TRACN4Route on X.

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