TRAFFIC ADVISORY
Traffic disruptions expected on N1 from Rigel Avenue to R21 Interchange, Northbound and Southbound Directions
Pretoria, 18 July 2023 – The South Africa National Roads Agency SOC Limited (SANRAL) wishes to inform motorists that traffic flow will be disrupted on the N1 national road between Rigel Avenue and the R21 Interchange in Gauteng Province as per the times and dates indicated below.
This disruption is required to allow the placement of pre-cast concrete beams over the N1 national road freeway for the construction of a new bridge for the doubling of Solomon Mahlangu Drive in Erasmusrand, Pretoria.
SANRAL advises that traffic flows will be restricted to two lanes in the northbound direction from the R21 Interchange to Rigel Avenue starting from 05h00 Saturday morning, 22 July 2023. In addition, motorists are advised there will be intermittent full closures in the northbound direction and traffic will be diverted onto the R21 while the contractor places a beam over the freeway.
“Once the beam is in place, the compulsory diversion will be removed and restricted traffic flow to two lanes will be allowed to allow congestion to subside. The process will be repeated through the morning and early afternoon until four (4) beams are all placed in position over the northbound carriageway,” said Alan Agaienz, SANRAL project manager in the northern region.
SANRAL further advises motorists that a very large lifting crane will be placed in position over three lanes of the southbound direction starting early Saturday morning at 05h30. The crane is set up for the entire operation and hence traffic flow in the southbound direction will be reduced to two lanes and will remain in place until 18h00 on Sunday, 23 July 2023. The flows in the southbound direction will be reduced to two lanes for the entire weekend operation.
“On Sunday at 08h00, the contractor will begin by placing a beam over the freeway in the southbound direction. During this time, the entire freeway will be diverted to Rigel Avenue until the beam is placed in position. Then the restricted southbound direction will be opened to traffic in the southbound direction to allow the congestion to subside. The process will be repeated through Sunday morning and early afternoon until four beams are all placed over the freeway in the southbound direction,” said Agaienz.
Once all beams have been placed, the crane will be dismantled. It is anticipated that the entire southbound direction will be fully open to traffic once again by about 18h00 Sunday night. There will be no restrictions to traffic in the northbound direction.
The closures may need to be adjusted depending on weather conditions and other unscheduled problems on the day. The estimated schedule of the compulsory temporary deviations from the N1 national road are shown below.
These lane restrictions and intermittent closures of the N1 freeway will disrupt normal travel times for motorists travelling over the weekend, particularly on Saturday when both directions are affected.
SANRAL apologises for the inconvenience during this period and will continue to provide updates to road users as new information becomes available. The Agency takes its mandate seriously from government to manage and maintain the national road network. In so doing, the safety and wellbeing of road users and the communities in which it operates are paramount.
Motorists are advised to plan their trips accordingly, consider the alternative routes recommended, practice caution and obey the rules of the road. An alternative route for the northbound and southbound direction has been identified using the R21, Solomon Mahlangu Drive and Rigel Avenue.