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As Easter weekend beckons, the Johannesburg Development Agency (JDA), the City of Johannesburg’s implementing agency, is pleased to announce the opening of two sections of the M2 motorway.

The M1 south bound to M2 East, Simmonds Street on ramp and the Rissik Street off-ramp from M2 east bound will be opened tomorrow, 14 April 2022.

As part of the Mobility Made Easy campaign and continued developments in the City of Johannesburg, the Johannesburg Roads Agency (JRA) appointed the JDA to implement the long-term rehabilitation of the M2 to keep the ageing infrastructure serviceable and functional for motorists. 

The JRA identified close to 30 finger joints and construction is taking place to replace them from Maritzburg to Crown Interchange on the M2 in Johannesburg.  The road rehabilitation started in September 2021 and is expected to be completed at the end of June 2022. 

UPDATED ACTIVE CLOSURE DURATIONS AND DATES Attached

ACTIVE LANE RESTRICTIONS

M2 Eastbound from Crown Interchange to Maritzburg Street (Kazerne Viaduct) restricted to two lanes instead of three lanes. M2 Westbound from Maritzburg Street (Kazerne Viaduct) to Ussher Street (near Crown Interchange) will use two lanes instead of three lanes. 

Closure 1+2: M1 South Bound to M2 East and Simmonds Street

The Rissik off-ramp from M2 East will be closed. Affected motorists will be diverted onto Village Road to bypass the Rissik off-ramp. Motorists will re-join the highway after Simmonds Street courtesy of the M2 East over Loveday Street on-ramp.

Closure 3: Berea on-ramp onto M2 East Bound

The Berea on Ramp to M2 Eastbound will be closed. Traffic from Heidelberg South Road will be diverted to Durban Street before turning right onto Maritzburg Street. Traffic from Maritzburg Street will on-ramp onto the M2 Eastbound.

Closure 4: Kazerne off-ramp to Maritzburg Street 

The Maritzburg Street off-ramp from M2 East is closed to traffic. Road users from the M2 E must exit at the Joe Slovo Drive off-ramp, keep left and exit at the R29 off-ramp, turn right onto Nugget Street, left onto Marshall Street, and continue for 570m before reaching the Maritzburg Street T-junction.

Closure 5: Maritzburg Street on-ramp to M2 Westbound

The Maritzburg Street on-ramp will be closed. Maritzburg Street motorists to join the M2 Westbound to keep to the left onto the M2 E on-ramp. Then proceed to M2 E for about 500m, keep left to exit at the Vickers Rd off-ramp, turn right at the northern, and another right at the southern terminal; and proceed to the M2 W. This diversion is about 3.3 km.

Closure 6+7: Stott Street on-ramp to M2 Westbound

The Stott Street on-ramp from Eloff may become inaccessible for a limited period. The motorists using Eloff Street and Stott Street from the city centre should pass the closed on-ramp and continue straight to Trump Street. At the intersection of Trump Street and West Street, motorists going to the North are diverted to the right of Booysens Street and then onto the Booysens on-ramp ahead. At the same intersection (Trump Street and West Street), the motorists going to the East and South of Johannesburg will be diverted straight to Trump Street and West Street, where then they can turn right into West Street and then left into West Street on-ramp to the M2 W. 

FUTURE CLOSURES

The East and West carriageways will remain open to traffic (albeit with restrictions) throughout the six-month duration of construction. Several ramps will be periodically closed, and traffic diversions implemented for such scenarios. They include Rissik Street off-ramp from M2 E, Maritzburg Street on-ramp to M2 W, Maritzburg Street off-ramp from M2 E and Stott Street on-ramp to M2 W.

The existing surface is being replaced with an improved structure to reduce future road deterioration and solve the problem of continuous road repairs. The rehabilitation will accommodate the increased traffic density, and cater for pedestrians and other non-motorised traffic close to the motorway. 
 

Road users are urged to please adhere to road signs for safety purposes. Road accidents have a substantial impact on the community. The project will incorporate road signs and reduce road accidents. For the safety of our motorist, the contractor will ensure that all safety aspects of the road are integrated into the project design and implemented during the construction phase. 

The contractor will incorporate:

• Road signs along the entire highway. 
• Safety instructions during construction activities. 
• Sufficient visibility along the road section according to standard specifications.
• Speed humps where required.  
• Safe stop signs.
• Provision of pedestrian paths.  

Provision of speed control areas and encourage slower driving.

We sincerely apologise to our motorists for such inconvenience.

Issued on behalf of the Johannesburg Development Agency in partnership with Johannesburg Road Agency