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VIDEO: De Waal Drive bridge open
8 April 2010, 15:10
By Clayton Barnes
2010 Writer
After two years of complex construction work, motorists are today experiencing the first benefits of the De Waal Drive outbound pre-selection lanes on the new-look Hospital Bend.
The new bridge opened at midnight, marking the first stage in the completion of the project, set to be officially opened in two weeks.
City authorities said in a statement that the new bridge was expected to greatly ease traffic flow out of the city centre, with motorists headed for Rhodes Drive (the M3 outbound) now able to continue to their destination without any further compulsory lane changes.
Motorists headed out of the city on De Waal Drive, towards Settlers Way (N2), will, in turn, use the old De Waal Drive bridge, also with no need to change lanes further.
"After the new bridge is opened, the contractors will close one lane of the old De Waal Drive bridge to make some changes to the lane configuration," the city added.
If everything goes according to plan, the city-bound pre-selection lane from Rhodes Drive will be opened to traffic on Thursday next week.
"Traffic from Rhodes Drive to the Eastern Boulevard will then be able to pre-select the right-hand lane before entering the interchange, without any further compulsory lane changes.
"Likewise, those travelling from Rhodes Drive towards De Waal Drive will pre-select the left-hand lane for proceeding to De Waal Drive," the city said.
The new links to and from Anzio Road (Groote Schuur Hospital) would open at the same time.
Peter Sole, the city's transport network operations manager, said the upgraded roadway, with a price tag of R230-million, would eliminate the need for "weaving".
"Motorists will no longer have to slow down to change lanes on the incline. Traffic will also flow more freely," he said.