Centurion road closures lead to traffic chaos
With closures at Main Road and a sinkhole at John Vorster, city officials say they are working on a sustainable plan of action. See alternative routes here.
Motorists in Irene encountered chaos on the roads this week after road closures led to traffic congestion in the area.
A portion of Main Road (M18) was closed last week following road subsidence (sinking) due to damage caused by a since-repaired water leak and made worse by heavy rains that led to flooding across Tshwane.
This road was closed between Main and Alexandra road intersection in the north, and at the intersection of Main and Pioneer road in the south.
In December last year, a portion of John Vorster Drive on the northbound side was closed due to a developing sinkhole.
Councillor Gert Visser said that the road subsidence had been investigated by the City’s geologists in 2022, and they advised that it was not a sinkhole, but caused by a water leak.
“John Vorster Drive, the preferred detour, is preventing the free flow of traffic due to a sinkhole and subsequent road closure of both lanes north.”
Visser said that he had visited John Vorster Drive this week and said that the City was building a cross-over road to help ease congestion at the Nellmapius intersection.
He said that city officials were working on a solution.
“A realistic and sustainable plan of action is in place and will be executed to improve the traffic flow at the Nellmapius Road and John Vorster Drive intersection.
“This road closure has resulted in unintended consequences for both residents and road users from other areas, such as Ekurhuleni.
“The public is kindly requested, if possible, to use alternative routes in and around Irene to alleviate traffic congestion, pending rehabilitation of Main Road,” he said.
The City recommend the following routes as a detour around the affected areas:
– Alexandra Road
– Albert Road
– Nellmapius Drive
“Albert Road infrastructure is not suitable for heavy vehicles, the City of Tshwane is working on a solution.”
While finding solutions, Visser said that the city and other decision-makers would focus on putting alternative routes in place to manage traffic flow.
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