Highway operator Bakwena Platinum Corridor Concessionaire is investing R160-million in upgrades at the Zambesi, Pumulani, Stormvoël, Doornpoort, Brits and Marikana plazas.

The upgrades were being implemented as a consequence of increased traffic volumes along the corridor and would increase plaza capacity through the addition of new lanes. Construction had already started and was expected to be completed by December 2017.

“The additional lanes will be worked on and completed with as little disruption as possible at the individual plazas, which means that the existing flow of traffic will be maintained or improved,” Bakwena CEO Graeme Blewitt said.
 
The Zambesi plaza would be first to benefit from the upgrade, with two extra lanes being built at the on- and offramps. The extrawide lane on the onramp to the freeway was closed to accommodate the upgrade.

The extrawide lane on the offramp would also be closed from March 17; however, measures were in place to alleviate traffic congestion during the peak period between 06:00 and 07:30 at the onramp and from 16:30 to 18:00 on the offramp.

The opening of the two new lanes was expected to take three months, with the complete construction works to be fully operational by end-October.

Once Zambesi was completed, Pumulani, Stormvoël, Doornpoort, Brits and Marikana would follow.

Two extra lanes would be added at the Pumulani and Doornpoort plazas, one additional lane in each direction at the Brits and Marikana plazas, and one lane at the Stormvoël plaza on- and offramp.

Work had also started on the upgrade to the Wallmannsthal onramp to add an additional Class 1 electronic toll collection lane to alleviate the congestion during the morning peak. In the interim, measures would be implemented to alleviate the current congestion.
  
“We are confident that the upgrades will be completed according to the projected timetable, as we do not anticipate undue disruption. However, we ask that road users practice caution when approaching relevant toll plazas during the construction period,” Blewitt said.