The rehabilitation project which includes a section of the M1 highway, Oxford Road bridge and Federation Road bridge will enter the final stage of completion in early May.
The bridges were originally meant to be completed by February of this year but due to labour unrest and geotechnical problems, the work is expected to be completed by September.
The Johannesburg Roads Agency (JRA) managing director Dr Sean Phillips said, “The R127-million project in now 75 per cent complete with the majority of the fill and stabilisation of underground conditions completed.” The project also includes a 3km long stormwater drainage system and the Federation Road and Oxford Road bridges will also be upgraded.
Read Road users urged to be patient with M1 rehab delays
The traffic flow had been limited to two lanes going each direction on the northbound side but from the beginning of May, the lanes will be moved to the southbound side of the highway.
The Ettrick Road on-ramp which has been closed will also be reopened from the beginning of May. However, the Oxford Road off-ramp on the northbound side will be closed.
“As you travel northbound, the Oxford Road off-ramp will be closed for the last phase but the on-ramp, Ettrick [Road], will be re-opened so that you can travel southbound on the M1 as usual,” said operation manager for traffic engineering for the JRA, Esther Schmidt.
Nonhlanhla Makhuba, the MMC for Transport said, “A quality road network and service delivery are an essential element of our vision to grow a prosperous and thriving Johannesburg that is able to attract much-needed investment to move people, goods and services effectively across the city.
“I thank all Johannesburg road-users who have responded positively to the construction work over the past year.”
Let us know how the closing of the Oxford Road off-ramp will impact you on WhatsApp 079 439 5345
