South African roads infrastructure

[nigel20]

Thanks for sharing that amazing image!

[Caisson Boy]

'Tis ma hood. Play some dub step.

[Dynamoe]

Originally Posted by Caisson Boy

'Tis ma hood. Play some dub step.

CY till I die!

[Ron2K]

While this thread generally focuses on the major routes -- I was on one of the roads less travelled this weekend...

[annman]

Jeez, that looks like its deep deep in the Swartruggens Mountains, north-east of the Kouebokkeveld.

[Caisson Boy]

Is that between Prince Alfred Hamlet and Citrusdal?

[annman]

Not quite, because then you're on the mostly tarred R303 road. It's only gravel over the Middelberg Pass. Also, it's much greener, as it's closer to rain-blocking Kouebokkeveld Mountains. This picture is in that "general area," but quite a bit further to the east in the Swartruggens. I think it's on that small road between Op-Die-Berg and Dwarsrivier. Speaking under correction, Ron2K will have to verify the exact location. Imagining it's not too far from Kagga Kamma.

[Ron2K]

It was on the road through the Cederberg (from the N7 between Citrusdal and Clanwilliam to the R303 near Op Die Berg). Specifically, here.

[Caisson Boy]

Close.

[ZATUGA]

Don't know in which thread I should post this.

SA to get 18 infrastructure projects

Government has identified 18 infrastructure projects to take place in South Africa in the next 10 to 20 years, Economic Development Minister Ebrahim Patel said on Friday.

He said 645 projects were identified by the Presidential Infrastructure Co-ordinating Commission and these had been streamlined to 18 strategic infrastructure projects.

The projects were estimated at R4 trillion over the next 15 years.

Patel presented the government plans to the delegates at the Presidential Infrastructure Investment Conference in Johannesburg and emphasised that partnerships between government and the private sector were crucial in seeing these projects come to life.

One of the projects would be the unlocking of the northern mineral belt, with Waterberg as the catalyst in Limpopo.

The multi-billion rand project entailed unlocking mineral resources, and the development of rail, water pipeline, energy generation and transmission infrastructure.

Patel said the area had 18 billion tonnes of coal, 6323 tonnes of platinum, 5,5 tonnes of chromite and 3611 tonnes of palladium lying untapped.

Government would build a Durban-Free State-Gauteng logistics and industrial corridor to strengthen the logistics and transport corridor between South Africa's main industrial hubs.

A total of 122 nursing colleges would be built nationally and two new universities would be built in Mpumalanga and Northern Cape.

Six hospitals would be built to improve the public health system.

Other projects would include improving road infrastructure, housing development, information technology and linking rural infrastructure with cities.

[Ron2K]

After spending the weekend up in the North West, something came to mind that I've always found a bit strange: what was the reason for constructing a dual carriageway between Potchefstroom and Klerksdorp? It's always seemed extremely arbitrary...

[nomnolence]

Originally Posted by Ron2K

After spending the weekend up in the North West, something came to mind that I've always found a bit strange: what was the reason for constructing a dual carriageway between Potchefstroom and Klerksdorp? It's always seemed extremely arbitrary...

Military iirc.

[Hennie]

A dual carriageway between Potch and Jozi is long overdue. That road is busy and poorly aligned. I dislike it so much that I travel to Kimberley via Bloemfontein from Jozi (before they started reconstructing the N8, that is). A tolled freeway would be well received.

The dualed section between Klerksdorp and Potch has been that way since the sixties at least. No emergency lanes and one split level interchange.

[Dynamoe]

Wow! Just took a look at the N8 between Potch and Klerksdorp on google maps! Must say, looks really outdated.

[Hennie]

Originally Posted by Dynamoe

Wow! Just took a look at the N8 between Potch and Klerksdorp on google maps! Must say, looks really outdated.

Oh Goodness! I have to spell it out!! Open your mapbook and read my post.

When one drive from Jozi to Kimberley via Bloem one first use the N1. You then take the Haldon Road N8 offramp. You turn right at the stop sign. The first 8km of the N8 is also dual carriageway but the rest is single carriageway. They started reconstucting it (the N8) middle 2011 and there are now multiple stop-gos.

5/6 years ago the N12 between Warrenton and Wolmaranstad was a total pot-holed mess. It was unsafe to go much beyond 60km/h. Using the N1/N8 one could do 120km/h all the way from Jozi to Kimberley without going through a single town or pothole. As I mostly travel at night it was far preferable. The N8 was rutted in places but w/o potholes.

Now that that the Warrenton-Wolmaranstad section has been rebuild, combined with the fact that the N8 is currently not the fast 120km/h option it was a few years back it no longer makes sense to go that long way.

The worst part now is the N12 between Potch and Jozi. I dont know if Google Earth shows all the crosses next to that road but if you use ordinary Google it might show what a killer road it has become. It is narrow, has many sharp bends and many at-grade intersections.

[annman]

The roads from Potch to Johannesburg... ANY road, whether using the Parys road, N12 to Soweto or the Carletonville Rd towards Lanseria, all of them are dangerous, narrow, have no reflectors and and an uneven surface with crumbling shoulders.

I do not know how the national government thinks they can foster development in the southern North-West and northern Northern Cape when it's access to the financial centre of Johannesburg is so dismal.

I travel to Potchefstroom often and must say I'm scared traveling those roads and am shocked at the state of the main routes linking Gauteng to two of North-West's three largest cities.

[Hennie]

We have almost reached the stage where we need to choose an university for our child. We might well decide against Potch simply based on the condition of that N12.

You mention the N14. It is better now but was terrible a few years back. That was precisely why I used the N1/N8 to Kimberley. My actual destination was either South Namibia or Namaqualand. A 150km detour but I saved a lot on tires! I leave the office after work, cross the border at Ariamsvlei at about 4am and watch the sunrise over the Namib with a cuppa.

[Ron2K]

Found this photo (source), dated around a month ago, showing the upgrading and reconstruction of the N1/N9 interchange:



This PDF shows what the plan for that interchange is.

[annman]

Thanks SO much... was wanting a pic or more info on this one! Can someone coming down for holiday this December maybe take more pics?

[Hennie]

There are two new bridges at Colesberg, one has it's scaffolding already removed (the one carrying the N9). They have started with the rebuilding of N1 which pass underneath it.

Part of the new N9 between the N10/N9 intersection (near Noupoort) and Colesberg is now complete - it is an excellent wide fast road. The section through Carlton Heights is now 4-lane (similar to parts of the N3) and the old speed limit of 80 has been raised to 100 on this section. Elsewhere it is now 120 instead of the previous 100.

The interchange at Middelburg down the same road (N9/N10) is also nearing completion. The existing bridge has been rebuild to accomodate wider roadways (both over and under). Traffic from PE/Cradock (N10) towards Colesberg will negotiable a clover ramp onto the N9 (270 degree turn - completed). Traffic from Colesberg towards PE takes a ramp onto the N10 (still under construction). Traffic to and from Colesberg towards Graaff-Reinett go freely over the new bridge (no yielding). For other turns there is a 2-way link road with stop signs on the Graaff-Reinet side of the bridge (N9) and the Middelburg side of the bridge(N10). Therefore all traffic movements from/to Colesberg which stay on either the N10 or N9 are now free flow. I could find nothing on this on the Net but drove past it 2 weeks ago.

The N1 at Ventersburg is currently being lowered and bridge decks will be constructed over it as part of a new interchange and to allow local people to cross the N1 safely. Noise impact to the town caused by the N1 will be considerably reduced due to the lowered road.

There are 3 stop/gos near Edenburg on the N1: 2 of them are avoidable if one take the old road between Stofkraal/Edenburg interchanges.

Further west there are still stop/gos on the Huisriver pass near Calitzdorp. Part of the R62 is now very wide with generous emergency lanes.

The Tradouw Pass is being resurfaced. There is a stop-go in the pass. That means most of the scenic laybys are closed :-(