The South African National Roads Agency Limited (Sanral) is battling constant copper theft and damage to fibre-optic cables, but this will not affect deadlines for its electronic tolling project, it says.
Sanral insists that, despite continuous theft, plans for the open road toll system in Gauteng continue and the first phase will be completed in 2010 as planned. The agency recently awarded its R1.16 billion contract for the project.
The cost of theft is not known, but it will not increase the budget for the project, Sanral notes.
“We have learnt to deal with these issues and how to overcome these challenges and have now set higher standards for our installation projects,” Sanral states.
The Gauteng Freeway Improvement Project (GFIP) is an initiative which aims to provide an interconnected network of inner and outer ring roads as a solution to the traffic congestion experienced in Gauteng. The project is divided into three phases - with the first set to cost R22 billion. All the funding will be raised through the tolling system.
The agency says thieves are also stealing steel plates, solar panels, cables for overhead lighting and a range of construction goods.
Camera surveillance and tracking systems would provide solutions. Tracking equipment will be placed in solar panels powering moveable message signs and increased surveillance systems will be available at construction points.
Past success
Sanral says the successful implementation of the Intelligent Traffic System would inform decisions taken on the GFIP.
The project is an IP-based communication platform, which provides a future upgrade path and allows for the addition of other IP-based electronic traffic control devices, such as vehicle detection systems and variable message signs.
Large-scale implementations, which consist of the expansion of the Ethernet fibre-optics communication backbone; the installation of solar solutions for areas where electrical cabling was not possible; the installation of last mile wireless communications in areas where it was not feasible or practical to install fibre cable; and the supply and installation of both analogue and IP-based CCTV cameras had also proved successful, Sanral adds.
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