City apologises as improvements on the M1 freeway are delayed

18 November 2016

 

Labour unrest, geotechnical complications and financial challenges experienced by the contractor have led to the extension of the R210-million rehabilitation work on three M1 freeway bridges, with the completion date of the project being moved from February 2017 to the end of the year.

 

This was announced at a media briefing on Thursday November 17 by senior management of the Johannesburg Roads Agency (JRA), the City of Johannesburg’s roads and storm water infrastructure provision and maintenance entity.

Member of the Mayoral Committee for Transport Cllr Nonhlanhla Makhubo appealed to road users to be patient and said the rehabilitation work on Oxford Road, Federation Road and Double Decker bridges would benefit the people of Johannesburg “for decades to come”.

“Roads are public assets that have to be maintained at all times. The rehabilitation work is to safeguard infrastructure for our safe travelling. I am requesting everyone to display courtesy during construction. People must take time to plan their journeys and consider using public transport,” said Cllr Makhubo.

JRA Managing Director Dr Sean Phillips apologised to motorists for the inconvenience caused by the delays.

“As soon as these challenges were detected, we engaged the contractor. We now believe they have the necessary financial muscle to deliver on the project. Unfortunately in construction there are no absolutes. These are our estimates,” said Dr Phillips.

He said the challenges resulted in work stoppages for a period of up to four months.

JRA has urged motorists who frequently use the M1 to familiarise themselves with lane reductions, use alternative routes or public transport and to plan their journeys in advance. JRA Traffic Engineer Esther Schmidt JRA announced that the following changes would be implemented during the next phase:

• From 21 November to 15 December 2016 Oxford Road onramp onto the M1 Southbound will be closed;

• From 30 November 2016 to 15 January 2017 Henry Nxumalo Street will have one lane;

• From 22 January to 12 February the Double Decker Bridge will be reduced by one lane on both carriageways; and

• From March to September 2017 Oxford Road offramp from the M1 travelling northbound will be closed.

Schmidt said certain lanes on the Double Decker section and the M1 between Killarney and St Andrews could be closed during off peak times, at night and over weekends to accommodate construction work.