The Maputo Development Corridor is designed to stimulate trade, through competent infrastructure and the opening up of South African markets to Mozambican producers.

Trans African Concessions (TRAC), a founding member of the Maputo Corridor Logistics Initiative, is responsible for 570 km of road between Solomon Mahlangu off-ramp in Tshwane, Gauteng, and Port Maputo in Mozambique. Both Johannesburg and Ekurhuleni join the corridor via the N12, which also connects to the N4 highway near Witbank. At the Mozambican border, the N4 becomes the EN4, which connects directly to the ports of Maputo and Matola.

TRAC has managed the N4 toll route since 1997 when it signed a 30-year concession contract with both governments, who were represented by their national roads agencies, Sanral and ANE. It was South Africa’s first toll road concession and is still the only one that operates across borders.

Overloaded vehicles are a major challenge when it comes to keeping roads like the N4 safe. Overloading causes damage to the road surface, which affects the safety of other vehicles. To deal with the issue, nine Load Control Centres are positioned along the route; seven of which are in South Africa and two of which are in Mozambique. In addition, eleven vehicle lay-bys are operated on behalf of Sanral.

TRACAssist, an emergency roadside support and accident response service, is available 24/7 to all road users. The TRACAssist team is manned by a 24-hour helpdesk in Mbombela, which facilitates communication between the TRACAssist teams dispatched along the route. This includes emergency services, law enforcement authorities, road users, and other stakeholders.

Maintenance teams, meanwhile, seal cracks, repair fences, and fill potholes. Additional duties include the upgrading of signage and road markings, grass cutting, and guard rail maintenance.