Radebe, MP Minister o Transport, Midrand
8 October 2007
Last year, during Transport Month, I emphasised that South Africa was faced
with ever-increasing traffic congestion due to the high level of economic
growth. Today, I sing off the same sheet.
The people living in the Gauteng area are well aware of the growth in the
economy and we, as the Department of Transport, are therefore under no
illusions of the magnitude of the task at hand. Motorists see the boom in the
economy everyday with the increasing number of private vehicles on our roads.
South Africa is also widely recognised as having one of the best road systems
in the world; however the traffic congestion caused by increase in vehicles,
particularly in this region, leads to a decline in the quality of life and
wastage of valuable resources.
Freeways in Gauteng carry up to 180 000 vehicles per day. We are aware that
the congestion on the main routes has substantial adverse effects on the amount
of time that people can spend with their families, their productivity in the
workplace, levels of frustration and unhappiness of drivers, and also has an
effect on the environment through excessive emissions.
Today, I am proud to announce that the Department of Transport through the
South African National Roads Agency Ltd (SANRAL) together with metro
authorities in Tshwane, Johannesburg, Ekurhuleni, and the Gauteng province
plans to upgrade and expand the freeway network in Gauteng which will provide a
safe and reliable strategic network that will optimise the movement of people
and goods. This will be done through the creation of an interconnected network
of inner and outer ring roads, and will also provide a direct link to the
historically neglected areas of the southwestern townships of Johannesburg.
The network will eventually comprise of 561 km. The first phase of the
project, up to 2010, will consist of an upgrade of the existing freeway network
of 180 km, which includes additional lanes and major interchange improvements.
The plans include inter-modal transport hubs to surface and rail based public
transport facilities.
The proposed system will also promote concepts such as Travel Demand
Management through the provision of dedicated high occupancy vehicle (HOV)
lanes and associated infrastructure. Furthermore, traffic flow will be
monitored and optimised by means of the Intelligent Transport System, also
known as ITS, which is currently being implemented.
The ITS system was successfully implemented on the Ben Schoeman freeway, and
we are currently extending the system over another 180 km of the freeway
network. By the end of October 2007, fibre optic cables and closed circuit
television (CCTV) installation for this section will be completed, adding
another 180 cameras to the system. We are also currently installing a further
49 variable message signs on the network, which is scheduled to be operational
in April 2008.
Through the ITS system, and recording of incidents, we have learnt that one
of our biggest challenges remains effective incident management, which includes
the removal of stranded/broken down vehicles. More than 50% of incidents
recorded on the Ben Schoeman are as a result of stranded vehicles. Furthermore,
we are challenged daily with congestion. SANRAL has started with the
implementation of measures to optimise traffic flow on the freeway in peak
hours.
During September, we launched the Ramp Metering pilot project on four ramps
on the Ben Schoeman in Gauteng. Ramp metering is an extension of ITS. The
system has been tried and tested internationally and we anticipate that it will
improve travel times and optimise traffic flow. With the use of technology, we
aim to optimise the use of existing road capacity.
Distinguished guests, the Gauteng Freeway Scheme will be implemented in
phases, starting with the environmental impact assessments, expanding the
carrying capacity of existing roads, and further expansions of the freeway
network. The environmental impact assessment has already begun on the various
sections of the freeway network. The social and economic impact assessments are
also underway.
We are investing more than R12 billion in the first phase of this project,
due for completion by 2010. For the second phase, which is due for completion
in 2015, we will invest R20 billion and R23 billion for the final phase to be
completed in 2018. This project will be financed through the 'user-pay'
principle, and it will allow our roads to be funded, without resorting to the
national fiscus for such projects. We also believe that this project will
indeed promote the concepts of lift clubs as well as the usage of public
transport.
Ladies and gentlemen, we are also planning to implement the toll
technologies which will allow for the free flow of traffic at tolling points,
as an extension of our intelligent transport system. Electronic toll collection
will allow motorists to travel unhindered. The tolling of the road system will
begin in 2010/11, through the building of 47 gantries on existing roads,
approximately 11 km apart. It is estimated that contributions will accrue to
the gross domestic product (GDP) of R14.2 billion and R15.3 billion in 2008 and
2009 through our freeway scheme. The Gauteng GGP for the same years will
benefit to R6.3 billion and R6.7 billion.
We also are confident that this project will created more than 30 000 direct
jobs, with a further 138 900 indirect opportunities. The total value of the
infrastructure will provide a R39,7 billion contribution to capital formation,
on completion, and R60 billion over a 20 year period.
Programme Director, in view of all these development we also need to bear in
mind that the substantial road building and development will not be possible to
address future growth in the region through building more and more roads,
without looking at other solutions. The development of the road system will
therefore be supported by other initiatives like the Gautrain, a National Rail
Plan, a Bus Rapid Transport system to name a few.
In closing, as I speak to you today, work has already started from the
Flying Saucer (R21) interchange up to the Atterbury interchange, as part of the
GFIP and support of all South Africans is of paramount importance in the
completion of this project.
I thank you.
Issued by: Department of Transport
8 October 2007
Source: SAPA
