John Ross Parkway on track for September completion
John Ross speed limit set to rise
THE provincial Department of Transport is likely to support a request to raise the speed limit from 80km/h to 100km/h on the John Ross Parkway.
According to feedback given at the Project Liaison Committee meeting on Thursday, the higher speed would apply to the portion of highway from the N2 at Empangeni to East Central Arterial at the Richards Bay CBD.
Further good news for motorists is that the section of road from the N2 to the Oilco detour is soon to be opened to two lanes of traffic – although ‘sub-standard work on the westbound carriageway’ might require re-surfacing.
The John Ross Parkway progress report focused on the Empangeni Rail Bridge Project – the section from Oilco to the R102, including the second road-over-rail bridge.
Having begun in April 2012, ‘practical completion’ of the 29 month project, the last remaining piece of the new road, is expected in September this year.
Total value of the works is R132-million, of which R76-million has been spent to date.
Local suppliers and labour have been preferred, with 89 job opportunities created and R3.5-million spent on local wages.
Road closure
Preparations are well underway for the upgrade and rehabilitation of the R102 (Grantham Highway) intersection.
Existing services are being relocated, raised islands are under construction and service ducts are being built.
Construction, which includes widening of the section down the Main Road hill from Empangeni, will take place at night and during low traffic volume day periods.
Expected date of completion of the intersection is the end of June.
Concurrently, the eastbound carriageway (R102 to Oilco) will be completed.
Meanwhile, upgrade of the Tanner Road intersection will see this important link closed for four months from April.
New Tanner Road will remain open.
Work is progressing ahead of schedule on Bridge B, the original bridge over the rail line, which is now ‘out of the ground’.
Piling on the east abutment is completed and soon 27 pre-cast beams, each weighing 24 tons, will be lifted by crane to form the base of the deck.
Bridge completion is scheduled for the end of August.
During this time milling and rehabilitation of the rest of the westbound carriageway (old John Ross highway from N2) will be completed, and the road will be joined to the new bridge.
