The N1-N2 Winelands Tolling Project (WTP) in the Western Cape will most likely make use of an electronic toll collection system like the one to be used in Gauteng from February.
SA National Roads Agency (Sanral) CEO Nazir Alli says an e-tolling system will be introduced for the WTP if the traffic warrants it.
Democratic Alliance shadow minister of transport Stuart Farrow says there are nearly 250 000 vehicles coming onto those specific roads in the Western Cape every day, so there's a major problem with congestion.
Having physical tollbooths on the highways, where each vehicle will have to stop and pay, will worsen the congestion problem, and so e-tolling will almost definitely be used.
However, outlined in the scope of work for the R10 billion project is the construction of toll plazas, but no reference is made to gantries in the case of an e-toll system and the possible increased costs for this.
“I don't know if we're ready for urban tolls yet,” says Farrow.
No costs
There are no established tariffs for the WTP as yet. “The toll tariffs formed part of the tender process, but have not been set because the minister approves the toll tariffs,” says Alli.
New tariffs were subsequently approved, but the public is still not happy. The Congress of SA Trade Unions (Cosatu), motor organisations and political parties have expressed dissatisfaction with the prices that road users will be forced to pay.
Cosatu says it will protest unless the system is scrapped completely.
Disputes aside
Sanral yesterday announced the selection of Protea Parkways Consortium as the preferred bidder for the WTP, at a cost of R10 billion.
This is despite intergovernmental disputes and the official opposition party's rejection of the project.
E-tolling is an open road, multilane toll infrastructure that allows tolls to be charged without drivers having to stop. There are no physical booths.
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