The South African National Roads Agency Limited (Sanral) has cofunded a project with the KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) Department of Transport (DoT) to upgrade the intersection at the R102, P535 and P743 route, converting it into a 35 m ‘turbo’ traffic circle.

The intersection is west of the eSikhaleni off-ramp, off the N2 between Mtunzini and Empangeni.

The R23-million project, which is 95% complete, began in January last year and is expected to be completed next month.

The project also includes the construction of a new traffic circle at the University of Zululand on the P743 route and a separate project by the KZN DoT for the rehabilitation of a 3.5 km link road from the R102 route to the university.

The innovative turbo traffic circle is a concept from the Netherlands and is used in many other countries. Drivers will not be able to change lanes once in the circle, as raised barrier kerbs separate the lanes. To inform drivers of the routes in the circle, advanced warning signs have been placed 200 m before the circle.

Sanral believes that the turbo roundabout is safer and more reliable than conventional traffic circles, as drivers will already have chosen their exits, keeping them in their designated lane and, therefore, preventing any weaving of conflicts with vehicles.

Sanral adds that it will be safer than signalised intersections, as it eliminates the possibility of traffic signal cable theft. The number of hijackings at the intersection will also be reduced, as it was previously controlled by stop streets.

Consulting and engineering services provider Royal HaskoningDHV was appointed to undertake the full design of the traffic circles and the rehabilitated link road and supervising all construction.

Royal HaskoningDHV KZN advisory group director Mervyn Bosworth-Smith affirms that the aim of this innovation is to reduce the number of conflict points at a traffic circle.

“This was a previously unsafe intersection, as it was controlled by stop streets, and the R102 carries heavy traffic including sugar cane carrier trucks. There are also people accessing the university and residential areas. We also decided against a signal light intersection, owing to the high rate of hijacking in the area,” Bosworth-Smith explains.

He adds that the major challenges of the project were the land claims from the local community, which were solved through negotiations, and the relocation of an informal taxi rank at the university’s traffic circle.