Photo by: Duane Daws
The Johannesburg Roads Agency (JRA) reports that construction upgrades on the M1 freeway’s Oxford and Federation bridges will enter the third and final phase this month.
The R127-million project is 75% complete, with most of the fill and stabilisation of underground conditions completed on the southbound section.
“A 3 km stormwater drainage system on the freeway between Rockridge bridge and Federation bridge is being upgraded, as well as Oxford and Federation bridges below the freeway,” JRA MD Dr Sean Phillips said at a media briefing in Johannesburg last week.
He added that the application of protective coatings was also under way and work would now move to the northbound section of the M1, necessitating a switchover of lanes.
“Further traffic disruptions should be expected,” he warned drivers.
The JRA pointed out that, as from this month, two lanes of the M1 would be open in each direction, while the Ettrick road onramp (southbound) would reopen and the Oxford road offramp (northbound) would close.
Also speaking at the briefing, Transport MMC Nonhlanhla Makhuba said a high-quality road network was an essential element of a prosperous and thriving city that was able to attract much-needed investment and move people, services and goods effectively across the city.
“The essential rehabilitation of our ageing M1 freeway and bridge infrastructure is a major project to improve mobility in Johannesburg for school learners, employees, taxi and bus drivers and the 80 000 vehicle owners who use the freeway daily,” she said.
She added that, when investors took decisions on whether they would expand their businesses into specific cities or regions, they always enquired about the quality of available infrastructure.