A team of experts will investigate warping of the Gauteng Freeway Improvement Project's (GFIP's) newly-upgraded highways, for which motorist will soon be tolled under the controversial e-tolling project.
The agency says it will do an in-depth investigation into the warping problem on the N1, between Beyers Naude and Malibongwe off-ramps, in Johannesburg. This area stretches over 12km of the 185km GFIP.
Democratic Alliance (DA) transport spokesperson in Gauteng Neil Campbell says the rapid deterioration of sections of the new GFIP is deeply concerning.
“I am extremely concerned that this may endanger motorists, who are soon going to be paying to ride on these sub-standard sections of road.”
He adds that the DA calls for guarantees that other “improvements” carried out over concrete are safe for motorists to use.
Daily fatality
Justice Project SA national chairman Howard Dembovsky previously told ITWeb these deteriorations of the GFIP highways resulted in Cabinet's approval of the minimal reductions in e-toll fees recently.
“I am not in the least bit surprised that the so-called reductions are as lame as they are. After all, it is going to take an awful lot of money to maintain these so-called improved freeways that are already falling apart where they have been completed.”
He explained that some sections of the recently completed roads are already affected by tar shifting, specifically the N1 South, between Beyers Naude and Malibongwe Drive.
“Then let's take the N12 East, where at least one fatality per day takes place, due to the fact that since 2008, almost no progress has been made. This section of the GFIP is extremely dangerous.”
Despite the N3 and N12 not being complete, there has been no talk of tolls not being charged on these stretches of freeway. “Isn't it funny that the gantries are complete - but the freeways are nowhere near complete?”
Campbell also questioned who will pay for the revision of the road service.
Repairs soon
Sanral says the repairs will be carried out at the cost of the party responsible for these failures.
“Just a strip of the asphalt surfacing on the yellow line will have to be milled out and replaced. Only after the cause of the problem has been established, and a repair method designed, will it be possible to establish the repair cost.”
It adds that the asphalt surfacing was done in a standard and well-established construction procedure. The “warping”, or the shoving, as it is called in the industry is, therefore, unusual.
“The spots where shoving occurred were opened and inspected. Material samples were taken and laboratory tests are currently being conducted on the materials. Only when the results of these tests are available will the underlying cause of the problem be clear.”
Sanral says the repairs are envisaged to be carried out before the start of tolling next year.
“A lot of factors play a role in the performance of an asphalt mix. The characteristics of the same materials used to manufacture asphalts can differ from batch to batch. Mixes are tested and trial sections are constructed before the mixes are approved to be paved on the road. Although all these measures are taken to try and ensure the asphalt mix will perform, the real test comes when it is exposed to real traffic and atmospheric conditions.”
Five months
Cabinet this month approved reduced tariffs for e-tolling in Gauteng, which dictates motorcycles (Class A1) with e-tags will pay 24c/km; light vehicles (Class A2) will pay 40c/km; medium vehicles (Class B) 100c/km; and “longer” vehicles (Class C) 200c/km.
Qualifying commuter taxis (Class A2) and commuter busses (Class B) are completely exempt from the e-toll system.
The reduction for light vehicles without e-tags saw a drop from 66c/km, to 58c/km; and from R3.95 for heavy vehicles without e-tags to R2.95.
The e-tolling project is an open road, multilane toll infrastructure that allows tolls to be charged without drivers having to stop. There are no physical booths.
The controversial system is expected to be implemented over the next five months.
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