17 May 2002
“The proposed upgrading of the Pretoria-Johannesburg road network corridor fit well into our Roads Development Plan”
The National Minister of Transport, Abdulah M. Omar, MP supports the proposal by the SA National Roads Agency (SANRAL) to upgrade Pretoria-Johannesburg Road Network Corridor in order to reduce traffic congestion and pressure on existing infrastructure.
The Minister said the proposal is critical, as the Ben Schoeman Highway cannot afford to take pressure of more than 130 000 vehicles everyday. “The pressure on our infrastructure need to be balanced and controlled, the congestion on Ben Schoeman also needs to be addressed. A project like this will ensure that the road lasts long”, he said.
Minister Omar added that the improvement of the road fits well into the Roads Development Plan, which is meant to improve and sustain the standard and quality of South African roads. He added that the project also forms part of the country’s integrated development plan as it will complement the Gauteng Speed Train. “The project will not only reduce delays, it will also decrease vehicle emissions by 53 000kg per day and contribute to economic development of the province and the country as a whole”.
The proposed new toll express way, a system which has been used very successfully in the USA, involves widening the roads to four lanes in both directions and converting two lanes into tolled express lanes and leaving two lanes in both directions tolled.
The toll expressway provides the motorist with a choice between the untolled and a tolled facility next to each other. When motorists approach the toll express way and find the untolled section congested, they can make the decision to travel in the less congested tolled express-way. “I am happy that our road users will have a choice to use the tolled road or not to use it, of greater happiness is that the quality of the road will be improved,” he added.
Minister Omar added that the Public Private Partnership is key in the development of infrastructure and improvement of lives in the country. The a consortium comprising Stewart Scott Investment (Pty) Ltd, Grupo Dragos (Spain) and DHV (Netherlands) are handling the property on behalf SANRAL.
Issued by
Mike Mabasa
HEAD: Media Relations and Corporate Communications