Jan Smuts Avenue in Johannesburg will be widened in a project that is estimated to cost R87-million and take two years to complete.
The Johannesburg Road Agency has developed a draft design for the future upgrading of Jan Smuts Avenue to a dual carriageway from Northwold Drive to Bolton Drive and from 8th Avenue to Kent Road in Rosebank, to improve mobility and decrease congestion on the main arterial route.
Jan Smuts Avenue has 18 intersections along its route which links the northern suburbs (the wider Fourways area) to southern suburbs such as Braamfontein and Joburg CBD.
The design for the estimated R87-million project follows a geotechnical study, traffic count and investigation of the existing stormwater infrastructure to determine the scope of work required for the upgrade.
The investigations took into consideration Jan Smuts Avenue’s location within a densely populated urbanised area and the impact on the community and motorists traveling into and out of the Johannesburg CDB as well as communities living adjacent to Jan Smuts Avenue.
City of Johannesburg Transport MMC Nonhlanhla Makhuba says: “Jan Smuts Avenue is a main arterial route which plays a significant role in the City’s transport network as it serves public transport vehicles as well as heavy vehicle traffic traveling between the City’s northern and southern suburbs. An estimated 3500 vehicles use the road in morning and afternoon peak hour in both directions.
“The proposed upgrade not only provides for congestion relief but will also allow for future upgrades and the inclusion of planned Bus Rapid Transit lanes as part of the city’s Integrated Transport Network Plan.”
As part of the motivation for the conversion of Jan Smuts Avenue to a dual carriageway, JRA has embarked on a consultative process with respective ward councilors and has planned engagement meetings with residents and business forums for their input and this will include discussions on heritage aspects and existing trees along the route.
Once all parties concerned have been engaged, the interim designs will be finalised and companies will be invited to tender for the construction works.