The Western Cape Department of Transport and Public Works has started work on Phase 1 of a R487-million upgrade to the N1 freeway around Cape Town.
The main contractor is Martin & East.
Transport and Public Works Minister Donald Grant says the three-year project is scheduled for completion in February 2019. To decrease congestion, the project will include adding an extra lane to parts of the freeway that previously had two lanes.
Work will be undertaken over the 9-km stretch of the N1, from Plattekloof road to just beyond the Old Oak interchange. This stretch experiences severe congestion during morning and afternoon peak periods, with around 120,000 vehicles carried each day, says Grant.
Apart from the construction of additional lanes, the work, spanning four phases, includes constructing new auxiliary lanes; extending the existing concrete median barrier to prevent head-on collisions; improving intersections at various parts of the freeway; demolishing and reconstructing the Old Oak West bridge and repairing other bridges along the freeway.
While efforts will be made to ensure minimal disruption to traffic during construction, Grant says motorists should expect reduced speed limits and lane widths.
Project work hours have been restricted to periods outside the morning and afternoon peak times.
Around R8-million of work in the project has been dedicated to the Emerging Contractor Development Programme, which forms part of the Expanded Public Works Programme.
R24-million has been committed to black business enterprises, and 29,000 person days set aside for labour sourced from the local area.
