The South African National Roads Agency (Sanral) has completed work on its electronic tolling tenders and says they will be published at the end of April.
From October 2010, the freeways making up the Gauteng Freeway Improvement Project will be operated electronically, says Sanral.
The agency stated it would invest R25 billion in freeway construction projects over the next two years, with improvements to roads in Gauteng set to absorb about R22 billion of the total.
The agency is building an open road tolling system which will require each vehicle to carry an electronic tag that would automatically trigger the tolling system housed in 38 overhead gantries, set about 10km apart across the Gauteng freeway system. The project is divided into three phases, with the first phase set to cost R22 billion.
Various options for billing the toll fees to motorists are still being appraised, says Sanral CEO Nazir Alli. He adds these could include linking tags to bank accounts, systems to recharge tags at retail outlets, or Internet-based products.
According to Alli, the winning company would be required to install the toll system over a period of 18 months, and run maintenance and operations for an eight-year period.
The tenders will be divided into two - the main tender and five sub-packages. Three companies have prequalified for the main tender and another five have qualified for each of the sub-packages.
Alli says companies which have pre-qualified should be able to provide roadside equipment, such as the electronic tags; system design, which includes managing toll transactions and accounts; and operations, which will consist mainly of managing toll transactions.
Raising capital
Alli stated in March that the agency was on track to raise the necessary funds for the programme. He added that the civil works programme would be completed by October 2010.
Participation from the capital markets in the company's debt offerings has been promising, he noted, and he is confident the agency will raise debt finance for the R25 billion required to accomplish its plans.
“Economic conditions are certainly tougher than they were when we began issuing debt to finance the major projects now under way. However, indications are that investors will continue to be assured by our good market ratings and track record of efficiently maintaining the network and settling debt,” said Alli.
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