The next stage of upgrades for the M1 highway and bridges in Johannesburg will start early next month.
Construction work on the double-decker section and the bridges on Oxford and Federation roads is continuing, with traffic diversions remaining in place for the next year.
“Road users are responding positively to our calls for patience and courtesy at sections of the road where construction activities are already in full swing,” explained Mpho Kau, the acting managing director of Johannesburg Roads Agency.
“They are experiencing inevitable delays in their journeys because of the closure of lanes on the northbound carriageway, carrying traffic from Soweto and the M2. However, Joburg road users are adapting well to the temporary changing road conditions and are starting to use alternative routes to travel between destinations in the city,” Kau added.
The closure of lanes on the southbound carriageway, which carries traffic from Midrand, will start in early May. At that stage, the carriageway will be reduced to two lanes between the Killarney and St Andrews off-ramps.
According to Kau, the R210-million bridge rehabilitation project is proceeding very well. The casting of the concrete footing for the new median barrier has started and all drainage within the median is already installed.
Road users are encouraged to make use of electronic and social media to remain aware of traffic conditions on the affected sections of the highway and to plan alternative routes. The agency’s website contains information about the latest developments, planning tips for journeys, alternative routes and traffic advisories.
“The bridge rehabilitation upgrade is the largest construction project ever managed by the agency and the infrastructure being built now will benefit the City of Johannesburg, its residents, the business sector and visitors for decades to come.”
Details: www.jra.co.za
