Widened highways, bridges and improved interchanges will serve as a lasting legacy that will ease road traffic challenges in the province. These road infrastructure developments are a result of huge investments made by the Gauteng Department of Roads and Transport together with South African National Roads Agency's (SANRAL) Gauteng Freeway Improvement Project. The National Road Agency is investing about R29 billion to improve national highways throughout the country.
These infrastructure investments have provided South Africa, particularly Gauteng, with a lasting legacy of roads, major infrastructure and public transport services. The improved infrastructure has the capacity to drive the economy of the province to a higher growth path.
The emergence of the Rea Vaya Bus Rapid system in the City of Johannesburg and Gauteng Provincial Government's Gautrain Rapid Rail has the potential to greatly improve the image of public transport. These systems are comparable to the best in the world and have the ability of to change the way residents of Gauteng travel.
The over-saturated conditions on the freeway network in Gauteng have the following effects on people and economy:
Quality of life
Morning and afternoon traffic peak periods have extended to almost three hours respectively, resulting in increased travel times between home and work and decreased private time for family and leisure. Traffic congestion also affects the quality of life of many people reliant on public transport who often have to commute long distances.
Productivity
Huge numbers of productive hours are wasted as a result of increased travel times.
Direct cost of travel
Extended trip times and stop-go conditions increase fuel consumption as well as vehicle wear and tear.
Environmental impact
Traffic congestion contributes to the increase in vehicle harmful gas emissions onto the environment. Throughout the world, great emphasis is now placed on reducing environmentally unfriendly vehicle emissions which contributes to global warming.
Traffic congestion has direct impact on quality of life, development opportunities and the environment. With roads infrastructure improvements, the economy of Gauteng will benefit positively as traffic impediments stifle economic growth and associated job creation opportunities.
Source: Department of Roads and Transport, Gauteng Provincial Government
