Main Reef Road to undergo a R30-million upgrade
12 May 2017
The City of Johannesburg is to spend more than R30-million over the next eight months to upgrade the M2 West Highway-Main Reef Road and link extensions in a new move that will alleviate traffic congestion, improve service delivery and enhance access to the Johannesburg CBD.
The upgrading was announced at a media briefing and sod-turning ceremony on Thursday, May 11, by Member of the Mayoral Committee for Transport Cllr Nonhlanhla Makhuba, who said the M2 West Highway-Main Reef Road formed a critical part of the city’s roads network.
The multimillion-rand project will be overseen and managed by the Johannesburg Roads Agency (JRA), a City entity responsible for roads and storm water infrastructure development and maintenance.
First built in 1890, the Main Reef Road is one of Johannesburg’s major arteries, connecting Springs on the East Rand to Randfontein on the West Rand.
MMC Makhuba said the new City administration was committed to upgrading and maintaining roads to ensure residents had access to opportunities. “Roads are an essential link to businesses and link residents to opportunities,” said Cllr Makhuba.
She said through an integrated transport system and an effective roads network, the City would be able to achieve its 5% economic growth target by 2021.
“During his State of the City Address (SOCA), Executive Mayor Herman Mashaba said the City invested in infrastructure that would contribute to sustained economic growth,” said MMC Makhuba.
She said Johannesburg’s infrastructure had been neglected for far too long. The City was now, she said, taking steps to ensure the infrastructure was repaired and maintained.
“We’ve to deliver new roads and infrastructure. Today’s sod turning on the M2 is an example of what we’re already achieving with our investment in infrastructure. Roads do more than just merely connect people to places ... They are also vital linkages to businesses to move their products and services and for consumers to gain access to such products,” said MMC Makhuba.
Mpho Kau, JRA’s Head of Infrastructure Development, said off-peak and peak hour traffic on the Main Reef Road had negatively impacted on the efficient delivery of services and goods.
He said the upgrading would entail road widening between Treu Road-Park Drive and Crownwood Road and the construction of a dedicated new lane from Church Street to the M1-M2 freeway.
The work includes traffic signal optimisation from Production Road and Dorado Avenue intersection to Treu Road-Park Drive.
The project will also include traffic accommodation, relocation of services, storm water, roadworks, road signs and markings, training and the upgrading of traffic signals.
JRA Managing Director Dr Sean Phillips said construction work would be carried out between 7pm and 5am to fast track planned upgrades with minimal impact on road users. “We plead with road users to be patient during construction. We expect construction to be completed by 15 December 2017,” he concluded.