Gauteng MEC for Roads and Transport, Ismail Vadi, said that the provincial roads department had reached another milestone in providing world-class road infrastructure with the official opening of Cedar Road in Fourways, Johannesburg.
The R87 million project is a Public Private Partnership (PPP) between the Gauteng roads and transport department and Steyn City Development.
“This is in line with the Provincial Government’s commitment to working closely with the private sector in improving and delivering on essential transport infrastructure in the province,” said Vadi.
In recent years the Gauteng government’s partnership with the private sector and the City of Johannesburg has resulted in more than R6.5 billion injection into the Steyn City development, which includes the construction of a new arterial road (R511) and infrastructure for basic services.
Speaking at the launch, Vadi said that Cedar Road is an “inter-urban collector of traffic” for surrounding townships and experiences a mix of light and heavy traffic from the northern outskirts of Johannesburg.
“The department maintains that investment in road infrastructure serves as a key stimulator of economic growth. It creates jobs and promotes social development,” he said.
“Chief amongst the greater economic benefits for this region are the development opportunities this upgrading will generate. Previously unattractive land tracts next to the road now look ready for development,” he added.
Vadi thanked residents, motorists and businesses for their patience and understanding during construction period.
“Ultimately, we work to make mobility safer and life easier for you in line with the Gauteng government’s commitment to providing a world-class road infrastructure,” he said.
The expected benefits for motorists include improved road user mobility; increased roadway capacity; reduced travel times; easier access to business, residential and agricultural estates as well as improved road safety.
The first phase of Cedar Road improvement, which was completed in 2016, included upgrading the road into a dual carriageway and improving its pavement life from Valley to Runnymead Roads.
The recently undertaken road construction involved widening the remainder of Cedar Road into a dual carriageway. This consisted of applying new pavement layers, upgrading of the storm water system, construction of pedestrian walkways and the application of new road markings.
Currently, the Department is also undertaking the major rehabilitation of the N14 valued at R444 million.
Meanwhile, the Department has welcomed the 2017 Infrastructure Report Card by the South African Institute of Civil Engineers citing an improvement in the paved road network in Gauteng.
For more information, please contact:
Melitah Madiba
Cell: 073 644 9935
