Photo by: Duane Daws
The R120-million second phase of the R500-million N12 freeway rehabilitation project has kicked off, with the upgrade stretching from Eldorado Park to Zuurbekom, near Soweto.
The R374-million upgrade of the major dual carriageway from Zuurbekom, south of Lenasia, to the North West boundary near Fochville, had started last month.
Both phases would see the repair of structural damages to the road and the full resurfacing of the freeway.
Different segments of the N12 project, which would be implemented along 14 municipal wards spanning the cities of Johannesburg, Westonaria and Merafong, were expected to be completed within 12 to 24 months.
The user-pays principle would not be applied to the 50 km segment of the freeway being upgraded and no toll fees would be charged, Gauteng MEC for Roads and Transport Ismail Vadi assured motorists in a statement on Thursday.
The freeway, which connects Gauteng to Mpumalanga, the North West, the Northern Cape and the Western Cape, attracted business, industrial and agricultural road and freight traffic.
“The N12 is part of Gauteng’s strategic road network. It is critical for economic development as it supports the mining, agricultural and tourism sectors,” he explained.