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R487million N1 upgrade: Here's how your money will be spent

Cape Town - The Western Cape Department of Transport and Public Works has begun Phase 1 of its N1 road upgrade. The project commenced earlier in February 2016 and is expected to be completed by February 2019.

Once completed, this R487-million project will include the addition of an extra lane to parts of the N1 in order to significantly to decrease congestio.

Western Cape MEC, Donald Grant, says: "Work will be carried out over the 9km stretch of the N1, from Plattekloof Road to just beyond the Old Oak interchange. This stretch of the N1 is known to experience severe levels of congestion at both morning and afternoon peak periods, with approximately 120 000 vehicles being carried every day. Once the project is completed, traffic is expected to flow much more easily, on both the inbound and the outbound lanes."

The upgrades, spanning four phases, will include:

  • Additional lanes on carriageways of the freeway to improve traffic safety and capacity,
  • New auxiliary lanes to improve weaving conditions,
  • Extension of existing concrete median barrier to prevent head-on collisions,
  • Intersection improvements at various parts of the freeway,
  • Demolition and reconstruction of the Old Oak West bridge and repairs to other bridges.

The project will also include upgrades to the existing water pipeline in the middle of the freeway.


Less congestion, increased safety, more lanes, visible policing... What would YOU like to see improved along the N1? Email us and we'll publish your thoughts...

Grant said: "All efforts will be made to ensure minimal disruption to traffic during the construction phase of the project. However, motorists must expect reduced lane widths and general speed limits in areas where works are taking place. Working hours have also been restricted to periods outside of both morning and afternoon peak times of 6am-9am inbound, and 3pm-7pm outbound.

"The contractor will be erecting movable concrete barriers on the edge of all working areas, as well as temporary gantries to depict height restrictions ahead of the bridge construction. There will be no long duration work carried out simultaneously on both sides of the carriageways, roadway, ramp, nor at both terminals of the same interchange. Traffic lane closures will be limited to one lane closure during short duration work. Traffic will be diverted accordingly when necessary, and information communicated timeously. This is to ensure that traffic flow is only marginally impeded at any stage of the construction."

'One of the most important roads'

"Roads remain an integral and essential part of the wider transport system. A country’s road network should be efficient in order to maximise economic and social benefits, and improve access to economic opportunities. 

"The N1 is undoubtedly one of the more important roads, particularly for this region, and improving travel times and easing congestion on this road remains an imperative. We will continue to invest in road planning, construction, rehabilitation, and maintenance, particularly on roads of economic importance."

Emerging contractor development programme

According to the Western Cape government, its Emerging Contractor Development Programme is part of the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP), and aims to develop skills and promote business sustainability for emerging contractors in the construction industry. Beneficiaries include contractors with a CIDB Grading of 1-5 particularly youth and women. This initiative forms part of this project, with R8-million dedicated to qualifying contractors for specific elements of the project.


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