Speed limits kick in
Dave Savides
THE signs are up, the
roads have been marked and
it’s now official: a large
section of the John Ross
Highway is a 60km/h zone.
Not that it has seemed to
deter regular commuters, who
this week have shown scant
regard for the new
restrictions. However,
authorities say they will be
doing plenty of speed
trapping to maintain road
safety in the light of the
large number of construction
vehicles using the highway.
There have already been two
collisions involving
speeding cars and
slow-moving construction
vehicles.
The monthly meeting of the
John Ross Project Liaison
Committee (PLC) was told
last week that both the
Provincial Road Traffic
Inspectorate and the City
Traffic Department would
ensure enforcement.
The entire section from the
N2 to the Mondi robots is
now a 60km/h zone and will
be strictly monitored.
Traffic management in the
form of painted refuge
islands and narrowing of
lanes at the Eskom and Old
Quarry turn-offs also call
for extra care on the part
of motorists.
Pedestrian facilities as
well as bus/taxi bays at
critical zones are also
being incorporated into the
highway’s design.
Progress report
Environmental issues are
going according to plan,
according to the PLC
meeting, which heard that
workers are keeping a sharp
eye for a three-metre black
mamba that makes regular
appearances on the
construction site.
While the multi-year budget
and construction programme
are in place, not all the
funding agents for the
R382-million road have as
yet agreed to the plan. The
national Department of
Transport has not confirmed
its contribution and KZN
Department of Transport has
only confirmed the
contributions for the
2005/06 and 2006/07
financial years.The
change-over to the new
national standard contract
document developed by the
Construction Industry
Development Board (CIDB) is
delaying the start of two
major bridges that are on
the critical path.
There are problems with the
contract document and
amendments need to be
approved before the tenders
for the Nsezi Bridge and
John Ross Rail Bridge can be
advertised.
Project milestones for the
completion of the
construction are:
• N2 to West Central
Arterial (Alton robots) by
March 2008
• West Central Arterial to
Arboretum intersection by
December 2008
• Rehabilitation of the
westbound carriageway (old
John Ross Highway) by
December 2008.These
milestones could be
postponed by six months due
to the delay in the start of
the bridges.
