Keynote address at the Gauteng Freeway Scheme launch by Mr Jeff Radebe, MP Minister o Transport, Midrand

Last year, during Transport Month, I emphasised that South Africa was faced with ever-increasing traffic congestion due to the high level of economic growth. Today, I sing off the same sheet.

The people living in the Gauteng area are well aware of the growth in the economy and we, as the Department of Transport, are therefore under no illusions of the magnitude of the task at hand. Motorists see the boom in the economy everyday with the increasing number of private vehicles on our roads. South Africa is also widely recognised as having one of the best road systems in the world; however the traffic congestion caused by increase in vehicles, particularly in this region, leads to a decline in the quality of life and wastage of valuable resources.

Freeways in Gauteng carry up to 180 000 vehicles per day. We are aware that the congestion on the main routes has substantial adverse effects on the amount of time that people can spend with their families, their productivity in the workplace, levels of frustration and unhappiness of drivers, and also has an effect on the environment through excessive emissions.

Today, I am proud to announce that the Department of Transport through the South African National Roads Agency Ltd (SANRAL) together with metro authorities in Tshwane, Johannesburg, Ekurhuleni, and the Gauteng province plans to upgrade and expand the freeway network in Gauteng which will provide a safe and reliable strategic network that will optimise the movement of people and goods. This will be done through the creation of an interconnected network of inner and outer ring roads, and will also provide a direct link to the historically neglected areas of the southwestern townships of Johannesburg.

The network will eventually comprise of 561 km. The first phase of the project, up to 2010, will consist of an upgrade of the existing freeway network of 180 km, which includes additional lanes and major interchange improvements. The plans include inter-modal transport hubs to surface and rail based public transport facilities.

The proposed system will also promote concepts such as Travel Demand Management through the provision of dedicated high occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes and associated infrastructure. Furthermore, traffic flow will be monitored and optimised by means of the Intelligent Transport System, also known as ITS, which is currently being implemented.

The ITS system was successfully implemented on the Ben Schoeman freeway, and we are currently extending the system over another 180 km of the freeway network. By the end of October 2007, fibre optic cables and closed circuit television (CCTV) installation for this section will be completed, adding another 180 cameras to the system. We are also currently installing a further 49 variable message signs on the network, which is scheduled to be operational in April 2008.

Through the ITS system, and recording of incidents, we have learnt that one of our biggest challenges remains effective incident management, which includes the removal of stranded/broken down vehicles. More than 50% of incidents recorded on the Ben Schoeman are as a result of stranded vehicles. Furthermore, we are challenged daily with congestion. SANRAL has started with the implementation of measures to optimise traffic flow on the freeway in peak hours.

During September, we launched the Ramp Metering pilot project on four ramps on the Ben Schoeman in Gauteng. Ramp metering is an extension of ITS. The system has been tried and tested internationally and we anticipate that it will improve travel times and optimise traffic flow. With the use of technology, we aim to optimise the use of existing road capacity.

Distinguished guests, the Gauteng Freeway Scheme will be implemented in phases, starting with the environmental impact assessments, expanding the carrying capacity of existing roads, and further expansions of the freeway network. The environmental impact assessment has already begun on the various sections of the freeway network. The social and economic impact assessments are also underway.

We are investing more than R12 billion in the first phase of this project, due for completion by 2010. For the second phase, which is due for completion in 2015, we will invest R20 billion and R23 billion for the final phase to be completed in 2018. This project will be financed through the 'user-pay' principle, and it will allow our roads to be funded, without resorting to the national fiscus for such projects. We also believe that this project will indeed promote the concepts of lift clubs as well as the usage of public transport.

Ladies and gentlemen, we are also planning to implement the toll technologies which will allow for the free flow of traffic at tolling points, as an extension of our intelligent transport system. Electronic toll collection will allow motorists to travel unhindered. The tolling of the road system will begin in 2010/11, through the building of 47 gantries on existing roads, approximately 11 km apart. It is estimated that contributions will accrue to the gross domestic product (GDP) of R14.2 billion and R15.3 billion in 2008 and 2009 through our freeway scheme. The Gauteng GGP for the same years will benefit to R6.3 billion and R6.7 billion.

We also are confident that this project will created more than 30 000 direct jobs, with a further 138 900 indirect opportunities. The total value of the infrastructure will provide a R39,7 billion contribution to capital formation, on completion, and R60 billion over a 20 year period.

Programme Director, in view of all these development we also need to bear in mind that the substantial road building and development will not be possible to address future growth in the region through building more and more roads, without looking at other solutions. The development of the road system will therefore be supported by other initiatives like the Gautrain, a National Rail Plan, a Bus Rapid Transport system to name a few.

In closing, as I speak to you today, work has already started from the Flying Saucer (R21) interchange up to the Atterbury interchange, as part of the GFIP and support of all South Africans is of paramount importance in the completion of this project.

I thank you.

Issued by: Department of Transport
8 October 2007