The rehabilitation project of the R28 road was launched in Johannesburg on Tueday by Gauteng MEC for Roads and Transport, Ismail Vadi. This project will involve the maintenance of the single carriageway between Sebokeng and Westonaria.

Vadi said that the R230 million project is envisioned to improve vehicle and pedestrian safety, improve travel time and create job opportunities for the local community.

The project scope will cover approximately 29.24 kilometres of road and includes the restoration of road markings and signage, as well as construction of a new drainage structure.

This road is located in the southwest of Johannesburg between the Golden Highway (P73, N1) and the N12 (P3/6). It serves as a bypass to Johannesburg from the south towards North West province and is also a collector and distributor for the rural area along the route.

Gauteng’s transport infrastructure plans

The province has allocated millions of rand to road maintenance and construction projects across the city in an effort to keep up with the growing population experienced throughout Gauteng.

Earlier this year, the province’s premier David Makhura singled out public transport as a key driver of industrialisation and re-industrialisation of the Gauteng city region.

With regard to road infrastructure, the province is spending R 7.2 billion to upgrade and expand all major roads that connect and integrate the different development corridors and key economic nodes of Gauteng over the next three years.

Some of these projects include:

• Upgrading the central corridor on William Nicol from the PWV5 (Jukskei bridge) to the N14 in Diepsloot.
• The N14 from Diepsloot to the Hendrik Potgieter intersection will link Tshwane, Johannesburg and the West Rand communities.
• Evaton Road from Adams to Selbourne will also be upgraded.
• A new interchange will be built on R42 Barrage Road that will connect the new Vaal River City and Sharpeville.
• On the southern corridor, the R82 Old Vereeniging/Johannesburg Road will be upgraded from a single to a dual carriageway from Walkerville to De Deur.
• On the eastern corridor, Heidelberg Road from Leondale Forsdick Road to Barry Marias Road will be upgraded from a single carriageway to a dual carriageway.

Makhura said all these roads will not be tolled.

He also touched on the expansion of the Gautrain and the challenging e-toll system.

He said that although there are extensive plans to develop rail and road infrastructure in Gauteng, he assured the public that government would proceed with future infrastructure plans in an open manner.

Future projects will be handled in this manner to avoid conflicts, as seen with the non-compliance of commuters when it comes to paying their e-toll bills.