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SANRAL supports aspiring engineers in water competition

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High School learners taught the importance of water conservation at the iGems Water challenge. 

WATER WINNERS: Woolhope High School learner, from left, Siyanda Mvunyiswa, Daniel Pienaar High School learner, Owam Ntlemeza, Sanctor Secondary School learner, Mervonecia Groepe, and Douglas Mbopa High School learner, Xhanti Shai, were crowned the winners of the iGEMS Water competition, in Port Elizabeth.

The South African National Roads Agency (SOC) Limited (SANRAL) supported 45 high school learners in Port Elizabeth at the iGEMS water engineering competition earlier this month. 

SANRAL in partnership with Labco, SMEC and the iGEMS programme, hosted the one-day competition at SANRAL’s Regional Training Laboratory. 

Learners were taught practical civil engineering skills needed to plan, design, construct and operate a water distribution network.The competition created awareness regarding the importance of water conservation in South Africa. 

It exposed learners to the importance of team work and allowed them to come up with creative solutions to develop infrastructure to provide clean water. It combined the practical application of civil engineering with theoretical knowledge. 

SMEC Professional Technologist Tronel Strydom, who judged the water competition, said: “This competition taught the kids about water conservation and the importance of water in our communities. It is very important for the kids to learn the practical application of engineering.” 

SANRAL Southern Region’s Marketing and Communications Co-Ordinator Michelle Ah Shene said supporting the iGEMS Water competition shows SANRAL’s commitment to the development of young, aspiring civil engineers. 

“SANRAL further promotes the importance of civil engineering through supporting projects like the Nelson Mandela University (NMU) School of Engineering STEM Pipeline Project, bursary and scholarships, and training civil engineering graduates in the SANRAL Southern Region Training Academy,” Ah Shene said. 

This was the fourth annual iGEMS water competition and afforded learners who were unable to take part in the South African Institution of Civil Engineering (SAICE) Algoa Branch Aqualibrium Water competition with the opportunity to have their own competition during the holidays. 

Winner inspired to take up civil engineering  

The participating schools included Woolhope High School, Linkside High School, Sanctor Secondary School, Douglas Pienaar High School, Douglas Mbopa High School, Newton Technical High School and four other high schools, all from Port Elizabeth. 

The 11 competing teams, compromising of grade 11 and 12 learners, were tasked to design a model water distribution network to distribute three litres of water equally between three points on a grid using two different diameter pipes and various connection pieces.  

They were then judged according to a penalty points system. The teams had approximately one hour to complete the task, which consisted of planning, designing, building and operating their network. 

Woolhope High School learner, Siyanda Mvunyiswa, Daniel Pienaar High School’s Owam Ntlemeza, Sanctor Secondary School’s Mervonecia Groepe, and Xhanti Shai of Douglas Mbopa High School were crowned the winning team of the competition after scoring 65 points.  

Groepe said she was surprised as she had not expected her team to come out on top: “It is amazing that we won. Team work is one of the most important skills I have learnt from the competition and it has made me consider going into an engineering field where I can work with people.” 

Second prize winner, Olwamuthando Ngcobondwana of Newton Technical High School, said she enjoyed participating in the competition and aspires to be a civil engineer: “I see myself as a civil engineer and hope to study at the University of Cape Town next year.” 

Third prize winner, Litha Nohashe of Woolhope High School, said the biggest challenge of the competition was knowing how to start: “Our team wanted to at least make the top three. The competition is great. It is not only an eye opener to experience what civil engineering is all about, but you can also apply the principles to your life, so it was valuable to learn.” 

SANRAL receives five stars for being environmentally conscious

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Eastern Cape office lauded for responsible, innovative design for building that will be the hub for SANRAL in the province. 

The design of the building is centred around the efficient use of energy, with a reduction in the use of potable water and the use of acoustic treatment.

SANRAL Southern Region’s Eastern Cape office is the first commercial building to be awarded the coveted 5 Star Green Building Council of South Africa (GBCSA) Design rating in the province and in Nelson Mandela Bay. 

The three-storey, modern-design structure needed to include quality finishes reflecting professionalism and a friendly atmosphere. The building is located next to the Baywest Mall, which is adjacent to the N2 freeway in Port Elizabeth. 

The greening of the building project started in August 2015 and was completed in December 2016. 

SANRAL CEO Skhumbuzo Macozoma encouraged the team to expand the role they play in the green environment. 

“I love the building and I want to spend more time here,” said Macozoma when addressing Eastern Cape office staff, adding that an environment conducive to working well starts with the physical building. 

“I have spoken to many people and they are very proud of this building. I want you to entrench this office in this region. I want you to plan jointly with our stakeholders, to jointly prioritise projects and to work together to identify where we’re going to source funding from to implement projects of common interest. People will be able to see how SANRAL is relevant to their development.” 

Energy efficient and water wise  

The design of the building is centred around the efficient use of energy, with a reduction in the use of potable water and the use of acoustic treatment. It boasts an efficient heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) system, as well as the use of low-embodied-energy materials. 

The building has a 90kWh peak roof-mounted solar photovoltaic system, rainwater harvesting system, highly insulated walls, roofing and flooring to maintain a comfortable internal temperature. 

Environmental considerations have been incorporated into the landscaping through irrigation-reducing technologies, such as automated seasonal adjustment, Rain Bird sensors, which automatically shut off the sprinkler system when it rains, soil moisture sensors, drip irrigation and mulching. 

Sound-absorbing materials have been installed to reduce and maintain appropriate internal noise levels. 

Marlize Nel-Verwey, Special Projects Manager who oversaw the design and construction of the building, said: “With our road network continuously expanding, a growing staff complement and the inclusion of SANRAL’s Technical Academy, we had to relocate to bigger premises. This was an opportunity for us to design a building that would be inclusive of creating connectivity, a positive work environment and a building that echoes our commitment to a green and sustainable economy.” 

Edward Brooks, director of Activate Architecture, said that each of the building’s facades is highly energy efficient. 

“Our brief was around SANRAL’s professionalism. SANRAL has a huge responsibility to deliver roads and infrastructure to the country and you need to come across as professionals. I think the building certainly delivers that. The multiple spaces are also designed to enhance team building and cohesion. There are multiple meeting spaces and impromptu spaces, encouraging staff to talk to their colleagues.” 

SANRAL counts every drop of water in the Western Cape

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SANRAL committed to saving as much water as possible, using simple, smart initiatives that keep consumption levels down to a minimum. 

The roads agency is continually exploring ways to reduce its carbon footprint.

Through the day to day running of their buildings, the South African National Roads Agency (SOC) Limited (SANRAL) has shown that they remain committed to being an environmentally-friendly entity.  

Environmental responsibility is not new to SANRAL. A few years ago, their Western Cape building was awarded the 4 Star Green Star SA rating for eco-friendly office design.  

The roads agency is continually exploring ways to reduce its carbon footprint, so when severe water restrictions became a way of daily life in the Western Cape, the building was quickly adapted to ensure the team saved every possible drop. 

Kobus van der Walt, SANRAL’s Western Region Manager, said: “We are highly pleased to see that the culture of saving water has been embraced by staff both at home and at work. As a company, we are committed to playing our part to save as much water as possible.  

“While water consumption on construction sites is not always directly within our control, we actively engage our contracting partners to ensure they find alternative sources of water where possible, and to use only the bare minimum of municipal water, while at the same time maintaining the highest standards of safety and quality when it comes to developing and maintaining our country’s road network.” 

How SANRAL saves every drop 

Some of the adaptations include: 

  • All toilets are connected to rainwater tanks. However, with a shortage of rain, the tanks ran dry and are now filled with recycled, treated effluent water obtained from a local sewerage plant. 
  • Fresh water supply to hand basins in the bathrooms has largely been shut down, with only one basin per bathroom connected. That specific tap has been fitted with a water-saving aerator that reduces the flow to 1.25 litres per minute. In the interest of maintaining hygiene standards, waterless hand sanitizer is provided. 
  • Kitchens have been fitted with water-saving aerators and flow has been reduced to two litres per minute, while portable plastic basins are used to harvest the water, which is later used to irrigate the garden. 
  • The irrigation system has been linked to the rainwater harvesting tank system which is currently filled with the treated effluent. The garden is now watered twice a week, without a single drop of municipal water being used. To maintain the aesthetic appeal of the building, the water feature ponds are also connected to the irrigation systems and a liquid pool blanket has been added to the water to reduce evaporation by up to 80%. 

Toll tariffs adjusted for 2018

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Discounts remain in place for frequent and local users on national roads. 

The adjusted toll tariffs will also be applicable to the Gauteng Freeway Improvement Project (GFIP) toll roads.   

The Minister of Transport, Dr Blade Nzimande, has approved the adjustment of toll tariffs on national roads for the 2018/19 tax year.  

The new tariffs will apply on the N3 toll road between Johannesburg and Durban, on the N4 between the Mozambican border and the Botswana border, as well as on the toll road sections of the N1, N2, N17 and R30.   

This adjustment, which is in line with the Consumer Price Index (CPI), will come into effect on 12 April 2018. It was gazetted on 28 March 2018. 

Adjustments to the tariffs are in accordance with the CPI over the preceding 12 months and includes the increase in VAT from 14% to 15% recently announced in the 2018/19 Budget. 

Click here for all adjustments and see how you are affected:  

https://stop-over.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/sanral-toll-tariff-booklet-repro.pdf 

Monthly adjustments and caps 

The adjusted toll tariffs will also be applicable to the Gauteng Freeway Improvement Project (GFIP) toll roads.   

The CPI adjustment will also affect the monthly toll caps applicable to the GFIP toll roads.  

Compliant users of Class A2 (light) vehicles will have their monthly toll cap adjusted from R250 per month to R266 per month. Discounts for frequent users as well as qualifying local users will remain applicable. 

The adjustments are made on an annual basis to keep the toll tariffs aligned with inflation. The one percentage point VAT increase is added to the toll tariff and contributed to the upward adjustment. 

The effect of inflation means that every rand buys a smaller percentage of a good or a service. As the average inflation rate is used to decide the adjustment, this means there is no increase in real terms. 

Toll monies are used to maintain and improve toll roads. Toll roads are built at no cost to the fiscus, with the concept of these roads being only to apply a user charge only to those who benefit from the use of the road.  

Reducing burden on taxpayer 

The Department of Transport, through its agency, the South African National Roads Agency (SOC) Limited (SANRAL), uses tolling selectively. Only 2 952km of the 22 197km network that SANRAL is responsible for constitutes toll roads. 

Toll roads are a prime example of a public-private partnership that makes capital available up front for important and expensive infrastructure projects.  

It also allows for the continued maintenance not done at taxpayer’s expense. Roads that are not regularly maintained will require repairs.  

The cost of major reconstruction can be up to 18 times higher than it would have been if routine preventative maintenance was not undertaken. 

SANRAL’s mega upgrade of the N3 begins

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Work on improvements to KZN’s Gateway to Africa planned to take 8-10 years.

There are various work packages along the corridor with each package taking between 36 to 42 months to complete.

The South African National Roads Agency (SOC) Limited (SANRAL) has started work on the mega project to upgrade the N3 Corridor between Durban and Pietermaritzburg.

The upgrades to the 84km freeway, known as KwaZulu-Natal’s Gateway to Africa, will be implemented in phases over the next eight to 10 years. This was announced by SANRAL at a briefing to stakeholders to showcase SANRAL’s current activities in KwaZulu-Natal.

SANRAL’s Eastern Region design and construction manager, Ravi Ronny, said the N3 Corridor is essential if one of government’s strategic integrated projects linking the port of Durban with Gauteng, South Africa’s economic heartland, is to succeed.

Critical sections to be upgraded by 2023

The project has been given priority status and construction on the critical sections will commence within the next two years.

Phase 1, which includes the critical sections between Cato Ridge and Pietermaritzburg, the Key Ridge realignment and the EB Cloete to Paradise Valley section will be upgraded over the next five years and completed by 2023.

Detailed designs are being drawn up for the reconstruction of the N3 between Durban and Cedara at an estimated cost of between R22-R24-billion.

The plans include a ring road around Pietermaritzburg to avoid the notorious Town Hill section of the N3.

There are various work packages along the corridor with each package taking between 36 to 42 months to complete.

“Environmental impact assessments are also being commissioned, while routes are being plotted to increase the capacity and safety of the freeway, which will have up to four and even five lanes in each direction over certain sections,” said Ronny.

New routes being investigated to ease congestion on Town Hill

Key Ridge and Town Hill will see a major realignment of the highway, where the steep grades cause major traffic congestion, especially when heavy-duty vehicles are on the road.

The expansion of the roadway in the current alignment is not an option due to the close proximity of residential and commercial properties and the extended period over which lane or road closures would be required.

Improvements are needed because it is estimated that users of the N3 will continue to suffer losses of nearly R800-million per annum due to accidents and time delays. Around R775-million of that can be attributed to time delays and between R250 000-R295 000 per hour to accidents and road closures.

Twelve proposed new routes are being investigated to eliminate the problems at Town Hill. A 14km ring road around Pietermaritzburg and north-east of the current N3 alignment is being considered as one of the more favoured routes.

Seamless flow of freight important

According to Ronny, the N3 carries in excess of 40 000 vehicles per day around Pietermaritzburg and consists of a mix of urban commuter traffic, long-distance traffic and very heavy vehicles. On some sections, the number of heavy vehicles can be over 25% of the daily total.

“In excess of 40 million tons of freight are carried on the N3 corridor per annum, with approximately 9 000 heavy vehicles using the national road per day. Durban is by far South Africa’s busiest port with over 80% of goods moving along this corridor by road,” said Ronny.

“Therefore, the need to consider the best economic solutions to ensure the seamless flow of freight is very important to this corridor.”

Ronny added that any blockage on the N3 causing its closure was tantamount to a national crisis.

A new road network for KZN

KwaZulu-Natal’s road network is undergoing major refurbishment and expansion, with the rewards being safer motoring, time-saving, improved business links, better-connected towns and cities, jobs creation, empowerment, poverty alleviation and unlocking land for new homes and businesses.

A new interchange at Kwabhoboza has been completed at a cost of R242 million and will improve the safety of pedestrians and motorists.

The newly-opened traffic control centre at Eteza will curb overloading on the N2 north, thereby extending the life of the pavement and improving safety.

The major upgrade to the iconic Mount Edgecombe interchange, at a cost of R1.1-billion, is fast nearing completion and should be finished within weeks.

The R950-million upgrade of National Route N2 between the Mtunzini Toll plaza and the Empangeni interchange is underway. This will see this 34km single carriageway upgraded to a four-lane dual carriageway freeway.

The elimination of curves at Umhlali River Bridge and Umvoti River Bridge on the N2 North will reduce accidents and improve road safety.

In order to fast track construction of a major interchange on the N3 at Hammarsdale between Durban and Pietermaritzburg, SANRAL entered into a partnership with eThekwini Municipality to share the R276-million cost of the project.

“The new N2 on the KwaZulu-Natal side will join with the N2 Wild Coast Highway currently under construction in the Eastern Cape. Once completed, the highway will be approximately 85km shorter than the current N2 alignment from Mthatha to Port Shepstone and will reduce travel time by about three hours,” said Ronny.

“There are scores of other projects in KwaZulu-Natal running into tens of millions of Rands involving periodic maintenance on various stretches of the province’s roads.”

Litter collection is a vital part of SANRAL’s routine road maintenance

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Aside from being an eyesore and a pollutant, roadside rubbish can potentially cause collisions on highways.

SANRAL’s RRM programme is aimed at empowering small, micro and medium-sized enterprises. This also presents sustainability opportunities for small businesses, contractors and engineers to manage the RRM in their local areas.

To ensure South Africa’s roads and pavements around the country remain in good working condition, the South African National Roads Agency (SOC) Limited (SANRAL) has made routine road maintenance (RRM) a key focus since 1992.

Because roads deteriorate over time, RRM is essential for the preservation of road conditions through various contractors. This includes pavement, drainage, roadside maintenance, as well as the upkeep of traffic signs and other road furniture. Litter collection is an important part of RRM as the build-up of rubbish could indirectly cause vehicle crashes.

Public needs to play its part

“It is just astonishing what and how much people just throw out of their vehicle windows, with little regard on the impact it has,” said Mpati Makoa, SANRAL’s Environmental Manager.

On a regular basis, staff collect typical litter such as fast-food wrappers, boxes and soft drink bottles on national roads. There are times when the routine maintenance crews have been surprised at some of the strange items they pick up, including nappies, bottles of urine and animal carcasses.

“If you throw away a piece of litter each day, it can become a veritable mountain of rubbish by the end of the year. Millions of rand are spent just to clean up litter that many people have thoughtlessly tossed out on the streets and other public spaces,” said Makoa.

She said that it also poses a threat to public and ecosystem health, as it ends up in water systems, impacting aquatic habitats and clogging up culverts and bridges. This increases the frequency and cost of infrastructure maintenance.

Makoa said: “It is important to educate communities so that they understand that by throwing litter on the road they can indirectly cause crashes. People need to stop littering and report it when others do it.”

SMMEs keep our roads clean

Along the N12, for example, from the Northern Cape border to the Gauteng border in Potchefstroom, some 3 000m3 of rubbish was collected between January and June of 2017.

Gertrude Soko, SANRAL Project Manager for Operations and Maintenance, said: “Litter collection along the N12 is administered through three five-year contracts, benefiting 15 people employed by these contractors on a full-time basis.”

SANRAL’s RRM programme is aimed at empowering small, micro and medium-sized enterprises. This also presents sustainability opportunities for small businesses, contractors and engineers to manage the RRM in their local areas.

Although costly and time-consuming, cleaning up the national roads in the country has become a crucial part of what SANRAL does. Close to 10m3 of litter are collected per day; in some areas this is done on a monthly basis or every two months at the beginning of each month.

An emerging subcontractor is appointed for each section to conduct RRM, including litter collecting. The litter is disposed of at registered local municipal landfill sites along routes in each region.

SANRAL continues to put the environment first

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Partnership with the Department of Environmental Affairs aims to further a green lifestyle among learners and their communities.

SANRAL was the first parastatal to receive a Green Star SA rating for its head office on Schoeman Street in Pretoria in 2012 by the Green Buildings Council of South Africa (GBCSA).

The South African National Roads Agency (SOC) Limited (SANRAL) and the Department of Environmental Affairs are working together on the department’s Green Schools programme.

The aim of the partnership is to create green jobs and environmental sustainability through collaborations between schools, recycling, buy-back centres and entrepreneurs in waste management.

Students empowered to implement change

Green Schools is an international initiative founded by the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE). Their aim is to empower students to implement change through engagement in socially responsible learning.

The initiative operates in over 40 countries internationally, with over 1 000 South African schools currently registered to ensure environmental awareness and responsibility is taught at all levels in all cultures and locations.

The programme is curriculum-based and supported by the national Education Department. Regional green school coordinators ensure learners are taught environmental skills appropriate to their environment and community.

Projects initiated by Green Schools include: water-wise food gardens, the cleaning up of pollution, designing posters and the use of energy-saving measures such as solar cookers.

Creating a legacy for future generations

The inaugural South African Green Schools Programme (SAGSP) was launched on 25 April 2017 in Polokwane by the Deputy Minister of Environmental Affairs, Barbara Thomson, and Limpopo Economic Development, Environment and Tourism MEC Seaparo Sekoati.

The purpose of the initiative was to raise awareness about the issue of environmental degradation, which can be changed through “embracing sustainable measures of harvesting environmental resources to create a legacy future generations can inherit”.

The Deputy Minister prompted learners to become environmental ambassadors and said that caring for and protecting our environment has to start at a young age.

Frequently asked questions about the N2 Wild Coast Road Project

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All you need to know about the N2WCR.

The new route is not a coastal route. Most of the route will run 10-15km inland, away from the coast, to avoid the most sensitive areas of the Pondoland centre of plant endemism.

Will there be toll gantries between East London and Mthatha?

No. All the upgrading done on the N2 between East London and Mthatha and along the R61 between Mthatha and Port St Johns since 2011 have been funded from SANRAL’s non-toll portfolio.

Will the greenfields portion proceed between Port St Johns and Port Edward?

Yes. The decision to proceed was taken by the Presidential Infrastructure Coordinating Commission in December 2015.

Are there any court cases against SANRAL regarding the N2WCR project?

SANRAL is supporting the Department of Environmental Affairs in one court case regarding the N2WCR. All the communities originally involved in this case have withdrawn, leaving only one remaining applicant – a member of a local anti-mining NGO.

Does the new route run along the coast?

The new route is not a coastal route. Most of the route will run 10-15km inland, away from the coast, to avoid the most sensitive areas of the Pondoland centre of plant endemism. The route only comes closer to the coast west of Port Edward so that it can link up with the current R61.

Are there any communities opposing the N2WCR project?

There is no community that opposes the N2WCR. However, there are some members of some of the communities living near the proposed Xolobeni sand dune mine who have raised objections.

Why do some families affected by land acquisition receive money and others don’t?

If any family loses some land used for the new road, but remain living on the remaining portion, they are compensated for the portion of land they lose. The amount is determined by a professional valuer, and is affected by the size and any improvements and crops that will be lost.

However, if a homestead must be entirely relocated, SANRAL obtains a new piece of ground nearby and rebuilds new, brick houses to the same size as the original plot and structures. Thus, these families receive new land and all their costs are covered and, therefore, do not receive any additional compensation over and above their new house and new land.

Due to legal and procedural requirements, there can be a substantial wait between contract signing and payment. This delay can unfortunately lead to rumours that payment will not occur or that money has been paid to the chief.

Does SANRAL pay people to move their family’s graves?

A grave does not constitute an improvement and SANRAL cannot pay families for their graves. However, SANRAL does cover all the costs involved for the exhumation and reburial in a new location to the satisfaction of the family. This includes all costs for permits, the undertaker, new graves, coffins and tombstones, as well as animals for slaughter, groceries and the travelling costs of family members to attend the traditional ceremony.

Easter Road Safety Campaign launched by Minister of Transport

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Dr Nzimande tells traffic law enforcement officers they remain the “hope of the nation” over the holiday period.

Minister of Transport, Dr Bonginkosi Nzimande (in reflector jacket) and Deputy Minister Sindisiwe Chikunga (also in reflector jacket), at the launch.

The Easter Road Safety Campaign was launched by the Minister of Transport, Dr Bonginkosi Nzimande, with words of encouragement to law enforcement officers and an appeal to the public to take ownership of road safety.

Nzimande was joined at the launch, held in Heidelberg in Ekurhuleni on 20 March 2018, by deputy Minister of Transport Sindisiwe Chikunga and Road Traffic Management boss Makhosini Msibi.

Save lives and prevent accidents

The Minister of Transport said law enforcement officers remained the hope of the nation at periods like this.

“Your primary objective as traffic law enforcers is to save lives, prevent injuries and accidents, and facilitate the free flow of traffic,” Nzimande said. “It is a universally accepted fact that visible patrolling of freeways, streets and public places by uniformed officers in clearly-marked vehicles is the best method of preventing road traffic violations.”

The 2017 Easter Road Traffic Report indicated that many of those who died on

South African roads during this period were the victims of hit-and-run incidents or motorists who were driving at speeds that were too high.

The 2017 preliminary report showed a new pattern with crashes shifting from identified historical hotspots into new routes and built-up areas at times that had previously not had a high number of crashes.

An attack on an officer is an attack on the State

The Minister also told officers that the State and courts supported them, particularly against those who attacked them while fulfilling their duties.

“We have noted with deep concern the increasing number of unwarranted attacks on our traffic law enforcement officers,” Nzimande said.

“Too often there are reports of a traffic officer who has been run over by some rogue who refuses to obey the rules of the road. Our courts will deal harshly with the people who attack you when doing your work. An attack on law enforcement officers is an attack on the State.”

Nzimande urged law enforcement officers to avoid taking bribes and to implement the law without fear, favour or prejudice.

“Always remember that the embarrassment of being caught in corruption will not be borne by you alone. This embarrassment will extend to you families, children and the entire government.”

State investing in specialised skills

The Minister advised the officers on a new qualification being launched for their benefit.

“The government is prepared to continue to invest in improving your skills and development. We now have introduced a new qualification which will be equivalent to a National Diploma or National Qualification Framework level 6,” he said.

“We want you to be skilled in all competences of traffic law enforcement and we will be re-organising our training colleges to offer specialised training to equip you.”

Road users urged to plan Easter trips in advance

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With high volumes of traffic expected on the N4 Toll Route this holiday weekend, motorists have been asked to prepare for their journeys accordingly.

TRAC’s 24-hour Helpdesk and TRACAssist will both be on full alert throughout the Easter holidays.

The N4 Toll Route will see thousands of holiday-makers and workers make the long trek from Gauteng to Mpumalanga and Mozambique this Easter weekend.

In anticipation of these high volumes, Trans African Concessions (TRAC) will once again boost its efforts to accommodate the increase in traffic and ensure the N4 highway, east of Tshwane, stays safe and congestion free.

Statistics indicate that the Easter weekend sees the biggest surge in volumes on the route, with traffic expected to be extremely high between 11:00 and 22:00 on Thursday, 29 March and on Monday, 2 April 2018.

Road Safety Awareness Campaign

The first stage of the TRAC N4 Easter Road Safety Awareness Campaign will be held at the Alzu Petroport on 29 March 2018, and will be implemented at other strategic locations along the 570km route.

At the Alzu Petroport, TRAC will interact with members of the public to generate road safety awareness, offer a well-deserved and proper rest stop, which will include free coffee and massages. They will also be informed of TRAC’s 24-hour Helpdesk and TRACAssist, both of which will be on full alert throughout the Easter holiday.

The second stage of the campaign will be held on 2 April 2018 and will see emergency services and TRACAssist stationed at strategic points along the route, from 10:00 to 22:00. These points include Bronkhorstspruit (Gauteng), Alzu (Highveld), Milly’s (Highveld/Lowveld), Kia Ora (Lowveld), Hectorspruit (Lowveld) and the Matola Weighbridge (Mozambique).

Each station will be the central dispatch centre for various sections of the N4 Toll Route, to reduce response times to roadside emergencies and incidents.

TRACAssist and the TRAC 24-hour Helpdesk will lead stage two of the campaign, with the latter being the communications’ hub. The TRAC Helpdesk will be the first to be alerted of incidents on the road and, therefore, plays a vital role in this project. Other participating emergency services include private and public ambulance services and paramedics, fire and rescue, provincial traffic, SAPS, pathology units and TRAC Accident Response.

Border post traffic assistance

TRAC will work hand-in-hand with the Lebombo Border Control Operational Coordinating Committee to assist with traffic management measures towards the border post.

This will be done through the distribution of traffic control flyers, and the provision of signage and other logistical requirements. The border will be open 24 hours a day from 28 March to 4 April 2018 to process the high volumes expected at the international crossing.

To avoid severe traffic congestion on the Mozambican portion of the N4, Stop/Go’s for the roadworks between Ressano Garcia and the Moamba Plaza will be removed from 30 March to 2 April 2018. However, the section between Shoprite in Matola and the Maputo Plaza, which is also under construction, is expected to be congested despite two lanes in each direction being kept open.

Elands Valley roadworks to continue

Unfortunately, TRAC will be unable to halt the roadworks in the Elands Valley section this Easter, as the project is at a vital stage. There will still be three Stop/Go’s in this section and road users are advised to use Schoemanskloof to enter and exit the Lowveld.

The safety and well-being of the N4 Toll Route’s road users is TRAC’s primary concern and all road users are urged to make full use of the road safety initiative. They can call the TRAC Helpdesk on 0800 87 22 64 in South Africa or +258 84 34 34 34 6 in Mozambique, for fast assistance and response to any problems.