Economic growth in the province has been identified as one of the factors that put strain on the road networks, especially in Johannesburg, Tshwane and Ekurhuleni metros.
The South African National Roads Agency Limited (SANRAL) and the provincial government have developed a project to upgrade and construct about 500 kilometres of road networks around the three metros.
The network, which is also developed in partnership with the metros, is expected to optimise the movement of freight and road-based public transport.
"This will be done through the creation of an interconnected network of inner and outer ring-roads, and will also provide a direct link to the historically neglected areas of the South Western townships of Johannesburg.
"The plans include inter-modal transport hubs to surface and rail based public transport facilities," said SANRAL in a statement.
The proposed system will also promote concepts such as Travel Demand Management through the provision of high occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes and other infrastructure.
The project is planned to be implemented in phases, starting with the environmental impact assessment, expanding the carrying capacity of the roads, and other improvements including the further roll-out of the intelligent transport system currently operating on Ben Schoeman.
The environmental impact assessment, which includes a public participation process, has begun on various sections of the road network including sections of the N14 and R21.
The social and economic impact assessments are also underway.
The project will be financed through the "user pays" principle, which is an equitable way of paying for a service that is used.
New technologies would also be implemented which will allow for the free flow of traffic.
These would use a system of electronic toll collection that would allow the motorist to travel unhindered.
Gauteng Transport MEC Ignatius Jacobs announced in October 2006 that the provincial government considered implementing an electronic tolling system along all major roads in the province this year as part of the freeway improvement plan.
He explained that the toll system would not operate like the current toll gates, but would keep the traffic flowing with motorists paying as they drove.
"...the central government relies on SANRAL to find funding for infrastructure development [for this project], and a tolling system will enable the identification of investors to raise the money, without resorting to the national focus for the large sums required for such a sophisticated system," said SANRAL.
Gauteng has the largest economy in the country and the Ben Schoeman Highway between Pretoria and Johannesburg, is the busiest in the country with about 180 000 cars travelling along it each day.
Traffic there is said to be increasing by 7 percent annually.
Thus a dedicated lane along the highway has been made available for use by buses, taxis and vehicles with three or more people on board, to promote the use of public transport and ridesharing.
The HOV lanes are opened during morning peak hours between 06:00 - 09:00 from Pretoria to Johannesburg and during the afternoon peak hours from 15:30 - 18:30 from Johannesburg to Pretoria.
Source: BuaNews
Presentation for Seminar
