The South African National Roads Agency (Sanral) will soon commence with the reconstruction of 14km of the dilapidated R21 highway from the Pomona Road Interchange close to OR Tambo International Airport, to the Olifantsfontein Road Interchange in the direction of Pretoria.
Frequent travellers of the important route are no strangers to potholes, loose rocks, patches of missing tarmac, and long gashes in the road surface.
The R21 rehabilitation will kick off early 2024 after a three-month mobilisation period for the contractor, with the construction phase to last for approximately 24 months thereafter.
The entire project is expected to cost in the realm of R309 million, said Progress Hlahla, head of Sanral Northern Region.
Sanral awarded the contract to construction firm Roadmac Surfacing and has appointed KBK Engineers to supervise the process and ensure the project adheres to the “highest standards of quality and safety,” said Hlahla.
To minimise disruptions for road users, Sanral has developed a comprehensive traffic accommodation plan for carefully managing lane closures and ensuring minimal impact during peak traffic hours, which includes a combination of daytime and nighttime work as well as short-term closures in off-peak periods.
Enhanced mobility for 45,000 vehicles a day
The R21 is a priority road for Sanral in light of the important role that it plays in moving people, goods, and services, said Hlahla.
The highway handles a massive amount of important traffic, averaging a daily volume of over 45,000 vehicles in each direction, 11 percent of which are heavy vehicles such as trucks transporting goods.
The scope of work to be carried out on the R21 comprises the repair and maintenance of the road infrastructure as follows:
- Main Carriageway Fast Lanes – Surface repairs
- Main Carriageway Slow Lanes – Surface repairs
- Emergency Lanes and Inner Shoulders – Addressing defects with crack sealing and patching
- Resurfacing – New friction course over the full width of the carriageways
- Ramps and Cross Roads – Sealing cracks, patching localised failures, and new asphalt levelling course
- Bridge Decks – Mill and replace surfacing and installation of new asphaltic plug-type joints.
“The R21 is a critical artery in South Africa’s transportation network and this reconstruction of 14km will significantly improve its current condition and enhance mobility,” said Hlahla.
“Road users can anticipate light traffic disruptions over the coming months but can ultimately look forward to improved riding quality, better surface drainage, and enhanced road safety when the project is complete.”
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