The pilot stage of Gauteng's i-traffic project is set to commence next Friday, says the SA National Roads Agency.
Project manager Alex van Niekerk says the initial pilot project on the N1 Ben Schoeman highway will be opened by minister of transport Jeff Radebe to mark Transport Month in October.
As part of the project, visible message signs will be functional from the end of this month. Motorists travelling between Johannesburg and Pretoria will have spotted the signs already, of which nine are full signs with three rows of characters and two are tactical signboards.
The electronic boards are located at various points along the route, says Van Niekerk. There are four on different approaches to the Buccleuch Interchange, three on approaches to the Brakfontein Interchange and one each north- and south-bound around the Olifantsfontein offramp.
Further traffic alleviation
In addition, the agency hopes to alleviate traffic congestion between Allandale and Buccleuch by opening up a shoulder lane, which will be controlled through electronic signs.
Traffic speeds and flow conditions will be monitored by means of traffic detectors and, when the speed of traffic drops, electronic signs will inform road users that the shoulder may be used as an additional lane, he explains.
Access will be indicated through the use of red or green arrows and these lanes can be closed if there is a breakdown or accident, as they will be continuously monitored.
The route, which includes a section in Johannesburg, is monitored through 70 closed-circuit cameras. Another 200 cameras will be installed as the agency expands the project to ring roads around Johannesburg.
The agency awarded contracts in September for the extension of the system along the N1 past Pretoria, the N4 towards Witbank, the N1 down to the N12 at Soweto, the N12 to the South of Johannesburg, as well as between Gilloolys and Daveyton, the N17 between the N3 and Dalpark, and the N3 from Buccleuch to Vosloorus. A communication link via the N3 and M2 has already been completed.
Communication backbone
Van Niekerk says the pilot project came in at R35 million, and the first phase which covers sections of the N4, N17 and N12 is expected to cost about R44 million. This phase, which is at contract award stage, will involve installing the communication backbone and cameras. The second phase involves the installation of the message boards.
The Johannesburg Roads Agency is also extending the project on Johannesburg freeways along the M2 to Geldenhuys Interchange and the M1 towards the N12.
This extension project includes the provision of communication infrastructure, CCTV cameras, traffic detectors, electronic signs and the provision of electronic readers that will read electronic tags fixed to vehicles of volunteers participating in the project, the agency says.
The projected completion time for the second phase of the i-traffic project is October 2007.
The pilot project on Gauteng's road network will be accessible to motorists via SMS and a link on the agency's Web site by the end of October. Van Niekerk adds there are obvious synergies with government departments such as Metro police, and discussions are under way.
Related story:
Gauteng traffic project extended
Share