Title: SA: J Radebe: Remarks at the sod-turning for the Gauteng Freeway Improvement Scheme

24 June 2008

Ladies and gentlemen, I'm delighted to be part of this very special sod-turning event. To be given an opportunity to launch the first phase of the construction of the Gauteng Freeway Improvement Project is indeed a privilege for me.

As the Minister of Transport I must say that I am pleased with the work we are doing to reconstruct our road infrastructure which has suffered a lot of under-investment for many years. It is for this reason that our Government has identified road infrastructure as one of the major priorities. For the first time in the history of South Africa, Cabinet approved a document called the Road Infrastructure Framework for South Africa, which is a blueprint for the planning, development and maintenance of our road network Government has also set aside R70bn for the road infrastructure across all spheres of Government - which demonstrates our seriousness to overhaul of our road infrastructure network.

Le me also say that our national road network continues to be an excellent example of what we mean when we talk about road infrastructure improvements. Our National Road Agency, SANRAL, has only been operating for one decade but it has done an excellent job in providing leadership on the national roads' front. It originally inherited 7 000 km of national road, and now manages more than 16 000 km of roads which are of strategic economic importance to the country. Our road system is now considered to be among the best in the world, thanks to the development of systems to ensure world-class assessment and maintenance programmes, as well as the full utilization of public private partnerships, of which the acclaimed Maputo Development Corridor is an example.

This is despite the challenges of overloading on our roads which we are addressing through our Overload Strategy. But also the challenges of rural access roads that are being addressed through our Expanded Public Works Programme.

The second reason for our cause for celebration today is that, the Ben Schoeman Highway, which is part of the Gauteng Freeway Scheme, celebrates its 40thbirthday this year. This section of highway is one of the busiest in the world, with a daily usage of more than 180 000 vehicles during peak periods. All of us who use this road on a daily basis (and I am included amongst these people) know that the levels of congestion are totally unacceptable and most inconvenient. Not only will extra lanes be built, but also the interchanges will be improved to prevent the delays which are currently being experienced.

This is also an opportunity for us to use technology such as Intelligent Transport Systems, comprising of Variable Message Signs, a Network Management Centre, Ramp Metering, opening of auxiliary lanes, Cameras and so on, to manage traffic flow and keep road users informed of prevailing conditions to improve their travelling experience. It is hoped that many municipalities and provinces will use appropriate parts of this system for traffic management in their own areas of responsibility.

These systems enable the Network Management Centre to be a communication hub, allowing it to pass traffic and construction information through a web site, variable message signs, radio and the internet. Eventually this will be able to provide such information as "estimated time of arrival" to drivers, which has been proven elsewhere to cut down levels of frustration and anger experienced in heavy traffic.

The GFIP is also building on existing open road tolling started by Bakwena on the N1 and N4 routes, using technology to ensure that toll collection is done in the most convenient and appropriate way for heavily trafficked sections of road. Electronic Tolling will also be introduced on the rest of the national tolled roads, with every effort being made to have operational integration between the various sections of road, using a single transponder in each vehicle to register use.

I have said on numerous occasions that roads are the veins and arteries of our country economy. The congestion on the freeways around Gauteng are inhibiting economic growth and development, and this "heart bypass" for Gauteng will enable the economic hub of the sub-continent to grow without the hindrance of poor traffic management.

It is also an excellent example of inter-governmental cooperation, with involvement of three metropolitan areas, Ekhuruleni, Tshwane and Johannesburg, as well as the Gauteng province. Without this sort of co-operation we cannot expect to manage a project as large as this one, which will contribute R29 billion to the GDP and over R13 billion to the regional Geographic Gross Productivity, by the end of 2009.

We, as South Africans, still live by the concept of "one person, one vehicle" and we can no longer afford to do that. We must encourage a change in mindset and use public transport, or share vehicles. The GFIP will make it possible to use public transport which will be reliable and able to use a high vehicle occupancy lane, and will also connect with other services such as taxis, buses, Metrorail and Gautrain. And also providing safe parking facilities to enable people to use other modes of transport or share rides.

Ladies and gentlemen, we all know that heavy congestion also has undesirable effect on the environment through excessive emissions of barely moving vehicles which contribute to global warming. The more efficient use of our roads, as well as the greater use of public transport, will assist to reduce the negative effects on the environment currently being experienced.

Programme Director, as Government we also continue to ensure that in all our projects, black empowerment targets are met and even exceeded. The Gauteng Freeway Scheme is no exception. I must emphasise that a number of jobs will be created during construction, and skills transfer will ensure that construction workers gain more experience and learn more about their business, and also giving them more opportunities in the work force after the construction. I'm please to announce that Contractors tendered to allocate 41% of the total contract expenditure to SMMEs/BEEs ownership, which equates to approximately R3.7 billion.

In the planning for the electronic toll collection system SANRAL has had the benefit of looking at similar projects in other parts of the world, and being able to use the experience (and mistakes) of others to produce something exceptional, at a reasonable cost, providing all the benefits of efficient transport which we know will come with the completion of the project.

International examples of similar projects indicate that political support and commitment is vital for success. Our government is committed to this project. And we are also confident that under the management of SANRAL, this project will proceed smoothly until 2010, and be completed in time to show the world what we can do during the FIFA World Cup 2010 event.

We look forward with keen anticipation to the launch of Phase 2 after 2010.

I thank you!