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Incorporating some of the provincial roads into the SANRAL network

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Over the past few years, we have seen a few provinces and a number of municipalities handing over some of the roads to SANRAL for modernisation and maintenance.

This is because SANRAL possesses the expertise and technical know-how when it comes to road construction and maintenance. This model has so far worked very well because it has relieved these authorities from the mammoth task of road construction and maintenance, and can therefore focus on other pressing socio-economic needs of citizenry.

Since September 2012, SANRAL has incorporated +/- 1,400km of neglected roads into its network from the North-West province alone.

The incorporation of provincial roads is a lengthy process and wholly outside of SANRAL’s control. This means that we receive these roads without budget and without additional funds. These roads are then maintained from savings on its existing budget.

After incorporation, SANRAL starts to maintain the roads from extended maintenance contracts on other roads in the vicinity of the newly incorporated roads.

The philosophy is to start with the routine maintenance of the roads which includes potholes, cleaning and fixing drainage systems, cutting grass, picking up litter, fixing fences, putting up road signs, etc., to make roads safe and drivable.

Swartruggens seen differently

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The Swartruggens Toll Plaza has unfairly be labelled as the most expensive toll gate in the country. In fact, it is – and it isn’t. It is expensive for occasional road users, but cheap for local residents. It is important to take into account the road distance it serves, it is, in fact, reasonable.

This is a perspective on Swartruggens which needs explanation.

Road users only pay for the roads they use and the distance between one toll gate and the next is factored in.

Tolling, an international roads payment system, is based on a “user-pay” principle – and it is fair. Road users only pay for roads they use and the distance between one toll gate and the next is factored in.

There is good news for farmers and other local resident road users in the wider Swartruggens area:

– tolls at the plaza have not been increased
– special discounts are now in place. They are substantial and mean that most locals pay up to 75% less at the plaza than infrequent users.

Application for discounts can be made in two places:

1. In Swartruggens at the Marlotti Guest Lodge, 19 Andries Pretorius Street, on Mondays and Tuesdays
2. In Groot Marico at the BP on Voortrekker Street, on Wednesdays and Fridays.

Investing in small business, investing in people

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The current slow rate of economic growth and the lack of job opportunities, call for urgent measures to be taken to nurture small, medium and macro enterprises (SMMEs) as a means of bolstering this relatively underdeveloped sector of the South African economy.

As such, the correct understanding of new businesses potential is critical to fast-tracking the development of SMMEs for entrepreneurs.

The development of SMMEs forms part of SANRAL’s broader socio-economic development strategy. This is why SANRAL ensures a certain percentage of work is awarded to SMMEs.

SANRAL spent R2.9 billion on SMMEs contracts in 2014/2015. R1.7 billion went to 765 black-owned enterprises.

During the contract period, SMMEs employ and train workers, creating job stability in local communities. This is why we say we don’t just invest in small business, we invest in the people too.

SANRAL paves roads for small communities too

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SANRAL does not only take on massive construction projects like national roads and tolling plazas. We are also happy to be involved in smaller projects – but which have huge advantages for local people, such as in Madidi which is in the Madibeng Local Municipality.

Some time ago, a local ward councillor approached SANRAL for assistance to upgrade a 6km stretch of gravel road, which is Madidi’s main entry and exit route. The road had deteriorated to such an extent that taxis, buses and delivery vehicles refused to use it, forcing residents to walk long distances in order to leave or enter the area.

SANRAL decided to assist as part of its policy to support job creation and community development.

It reached an agreement with the North-West province to re-lay the road with an asphalt surface at a cost of R30 million, with the province and SANRAL each contributing R15 million.

The project created jobs for two years and the local economy was boosted. Public transport improved significantly and new taxis were purchased, car wash businesses were opened and other businesses began to thrive. Above all, contractors in the area were empowered with road construction skills.

The new road brought significant benefits to the community:

Madidi

The Road to Moria

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SANRAL intervened and as a result, lives have been saved and traffic congestion has been eased at the R71 Interchange near Moria, Limpopo. It had many challenges, such as constant congestion resulting from a clogged-up two-lane road running from Polokwane to Tzaneen, and consequently, a single lane for traffic coming from the opposite direction. This traffic jam would reach a peak over Easter time when millions of pilgrims use this section of the road to access Moria, their central place of worship.

This would be coupled with a host of unavoidable road safety risks, as cars wanting to make a right turn from the intersection into Moria would do so at their own risk – without a guidance system or traffic control measures. To make it worse, road users would have to be vigilant of thousands of pedestrians alighting minibus taxis, a factor which has contributed to the growing number of pedestrian fatalities.

But this was back in 2014, and the situation has improved dramatically since then, after SANRAL undertook to upgrade the road.

Moria project in numbers

Freeways are SMART too!

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Severe traffic congestion is experienced in most major cities around the world, and South Africa is no exception. This can have a negative effect on productivity, the running costs of vehicles, the environment and the time people spend with their families

It is often too costly to provide additional road capacity within restricted space, and alternative solutions must be explored in order to optimise the road capacity.

Another major challenge is the ability to deal efficiently with crashes and incidents when they occur, specifically when such freeways are already operating at or above the intended capacity.

SANRAL, realising the increasing constraints on the provision of infrastructure to effectively manage its road network and improve road safety, investigated alternatives by focusing on operational issues in response to road users’ needs.

SANRAL deployed Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) on the major freeways in Gauteng, aptly referred to as the Gauteng Freeway Management System (FMS). 220km of the Gauteng Freeway Network is equipped with ITS.

The aim of the FMS is to:

– Reduce congestion
– Improve road safety
– Keep motorists informed
– Respond rapidly to traffic congestions

It is better to have paid

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Yesterday’s announcement of the implementation of the once-off 60% discount of historic e-toll debt in arrears has been met with some queries and many road users sms’ing and calling to check their debt.

“It is important to note that the decision to ease the burden of this old debt does not come at the expense of road users who have done the right thing from the start of the system and paid,” says SANRAL’s communications manager, Vusi Mona.

“We thank the hundreds of thousands of law-abiding vehicle owners who have registered in the past and continued to pay their fair share for the upkeep of our top-class freeway network.

We can assure you that you are winning all the way with the new dispensation.. You have no debt to settle, and even with the 60% discount for those that have not been paying, you will have paid less.”

This table explains it simply using a R10 example:

Screenshot 2015-11-02 17.10.27

Mona explained that the new dispensation will not disadvantage those with e-tags. They will continue to benefit through the standardised 30c/km tariff, the 50% reduction in monthly caps, the continuation of the time-of-day discount and the peace of mind that their annual vehicle licensing renewal will be handled without any complications or delays.

“We encourage all vehicle owners in Gauteng to reap the benefits of registering for e-tolls and making the switch towards e-tags.”

Print

SANRAL announces roll-out of 2nd phase of the new e-toll dispensation

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60% discount on debt now available.

Road users on the Gauteng freeway network are eligible for a 60% reduction of their historic e-toll debt in arrears. The Department of Transport announced this in Government Gazette 39306. This once-off discount applies to all unpaid e-tolls levied on GFIP roads from 3 December 2013 up to and including 31 August 2015.

The new e-toll dispensation announced by Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa in May is being phased in and changes have been made to the electronic systems to ensure a seamless transition, says SANRAL’s Head of Communications, Vusi Mona.

Among the changes that are already in place are a uniform rate of 30 cents per kilometre for light vehicles and a 50% reduction in the monthly maximum for registered account holders.

Road users with outstanding e-toll debt incurred from 3 December 2013 until 31 August 2015 now have six months to settle their accounts, or make payment arrangements.

“This is not an amnesty or a debt write-off. It is a special discount offered to road users in terms of the new dispensation. Road users can contact the dedicated toll-free number 087 353 1490 or send an SMS to 43360 with their ID number to find out how much they owe.

They can then pay their dues over the counter at all First National Bank branches, or at any FNB ATM, or via the internet or EFT.”

Detailed information on all payment options available can be found on the special website www.less60.co.za.

Mona says the best option for road users is still to register for e-tags and benefit from the reduced tariff and a monthly maximum that has been cut in half from R450.00 per month to only R225.00, for light vehicles, since the beginning of July.

“Government has listened to concerns from Gauteng road users about the affordability of the e-toll fees and responded by reducing toll fees and making it easier for those who do not have an account with SANRAL to settle their debt.”

Traffic Advisory for R72 Port Alfred and Fish River

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SANRAL would like to notify road users of travel delays on the R72, due to blasting at the Shaw Park quarry that will commence from 15h00 onwards Tuesday 27 October 2015. The road will be closed and motorists can expect a delay of approximately 30 minutes.

The Shaw Park quarry is situated next to the R72, near the intersection of the R72 with the gravel road leading to Shaw Park. The quarry extends from the SANRAL kilometre markers 20,800 to 21,200.

Motorists are requested to plan their trips accordingly and be cautious when making use of the road.

SANRAL scoops top engineering awards for road projects

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SANRAL has received the highest accolades awarded by the South African Institution for Civil Engineering for two major road development projects in KwaZulu-Natal.

Vusi Mona, spokesperson of the South African National Roads Agency SOC Ltd (SANRAL), says the recognition by SAICE confirms the agency’s reputation as a world-class manager of road construction projects. Both projects have been recognised for their innovation and contribution to excellence in the engineering sector.

The Umgeni Road Interchange on the N2 just north Ethekwini will be opened by the Minister of Transport, Dipuo Peters, this week. Construction started in March 2011 and one of the primary challenges was to continue with work while the road was still carrying traffic.

Prior to the upgrade, up to 16,000 vehicles were travelling through a conventional diamond-shape interchange, controlled by traffic signals, during morning and evening peak hours. This led to chronic congestion on the freeway and in Umgeni Road, a vital artery for communities in Ethekwini.

The project included the building of four new road bridges and two pedestrian bridges, the widening of Umgeni Road / M19 and the construction of ramps onto the freeway.

An innovative construction method, known as incremental launch, was used to build the bridges. This method entails the building of the entire bridge from one end of the structure and sliding sections of the deck into position through the use of specially designed ball bearings.

The new interchange has already resulted in a significant reduction in traffic congestion and journey times and will contribute to improved road safety for pedestrians and motorists on a road that was previously known for its high number of accidents.

The Umgeni project also won the top accolade given by the KwaZulu-Natal branch of SAICE and the prestigious Fulton Award from the Concrete Society of Southern Africa.

The Candella Road Project was celebrated by SAICE in the Transportation category. The project forms part of SANRAL’s “green roads” initiative designed to reduce the long-term environmental impact of road construction.

An ultra-thin layer of asphalt was laid over the 8.5km section of the N3 between Candella Road and Paradise Valley. This innovation makes the road safer for commuters because it increases skid resistance.

Mona says both the projects contributed to SANRAL’s commitment to create job opportunities and use the services of emerging SMME contractors. On the N2 more than R57-million was allocated for labour and 265 people were trained in various skills. The Candella Road project used the services of 50 small and local companies and more than R7-million was spent on salaries and wages.