The Johannesburg Roads Agency has set the wheels in motion for the redesign of Jan Smuts avenue in Rosebank to dual carriage.

According to City of Johannesburg Transport MMC, Nonhlanhla Makhuba the proposed upgrade is vital because it will assist in improving mobility and decreasing congestion on the main arterial route.

“Jan Smuts Avenue is a main arterial route which plays a significant role in the City’s transport network as it serves public transport vehicles as well as heavy vehicle traffic traveling between the City’s northern and southern suburbs,” Makhuba explains.

Making room for future upgrades

“An estimated 3500 vehicles use the road in morning and afternoon peak hour in both directions. The proposed upgrade not only provides for congestion relief but will also allow for future upgrades and the inclusion of planned Bus Rapid Transit lanes as part of the city’s Integrated Transport Network Plan,” she adds.

The JRA’s draft design for the project proposes an upgrade of Jan Smuts Avenue to a dual carriageway from Northwold Drive to Bolton Drive and from 8^th Avenue to Kent Road in Rosebank.

The design for the estimated R87 million project follows a geotechnical study, traffic count and investigation of the existing stormwater infrastructure to determine the scope of work required for the upgrade.

Consulting the community

According to the JRA the investigations took into consideration Jan Smuts Avenue’s location within a densely populated urbanised area and the impact on the community and motorists traveling into and out of the Johannesburg CDB as well as communities living adjacent to Jan Smuts Avenue.

As part of the motivation for the conversion of Jan Smuts Avenue to a dual carriageway, the JRA has embarked on a consultative process with respective ward councillors and has planned engagement meetings with residents and business forums for their input and this will include discussions on heritage aspects and existing trees along the route.

The JRA says once all parties concerned have been engaged, the interim designs will be finalised and companies will be invited to tender for the construction works.