New Gauteng highway to support Tambo Springs development

Gauteng’s proposed new highway – the first for the province in 40 years – will considerably ease freight traffic congestion. This is according to transport economist, Andrew Marsay, who says the 35km-long PWV15 will act as an eastern freight bypass, bringing relief from freight traffic to the interchanges at Buccleuch and Gilloolys as well as the Geldenhuys interchange. He said this relief would extend right through to the Tambo Springs inland port development and the road would offer support to the planned hub. “But it should be explicitly packaged as a ‘freight relief route’ with the benefit to commuter and local freight distribution traffic on the rest of the network,” said Marsay. The road has been conceptualised as support to the proposed development of an aerotropolis at OR Tambo International Airport. According to the Gauteng department of transport, road network analysis and the realignment of the PWV15 has been finalised. Gauteng has committed to a programme of improving road infrastructure either through the construction of new roads or by improving its existing roads. A total of R1.9 billion has been allocated towards transport infrastructure in the current financial year. According to a department spokesman, the emphasis on road infrastructure upgrade and development is closely linked to the stimulation of economic activities in the province. In June this year the province launched a R150- million road rehabilitation project on the R511 (the William Nicol Extension), while the R16- million upgrade of the P41/1 road near Nigel in Ekurhuleni was completed in the same month. This road also improves the link between Nigel/ Springs and the N3, and provides direct access to the newly developed Gibela rail manufacturing factory at Dunnotar which is scheduled to be opened later this year.

INSERT & CAPTION

But it should be explicitly packaged as a ‘freight relief route’ with the benefit to commuter and local freight distribution traffic on the rest of the network. – Andrew Marsay