A new R15-billion "city" - likely to be the catalyst that will unite Tshwane and Johannesburg all along the highway - is to be established in Midrand.
Waterfall City is billed as the single largest mixed-use development on the biggest tract of empty land in the province.
It will not have one single, independent liquor outlet because it is to be established on Muslim-owned land, and the religion frowns on the use of alcohol.
With an additional 6 000 vehicles a day expected in the area - where peak hour starts at 2pm - the development is causing controversy among residents who are mobilising to protest against the expected congestion on the already-clogged roads.
But according to the brains behind the scheme, developer Werner van Rhyn, it's all systems go. Most of the environmental impact, and traffic impact studies, had already been completed, he said.
"Residents need not fear traffic. Although our road plans have not yet been approved, it is a strict condition that we may not proceed with the various phases until roads are upgraded," he said.
Waterfall City lies on property owned by Witwatersrand Estates Ltd, started in 1934. It was purchased by Moosa Ismail Mia, a trader, who bought the 3 000ha farm.
The Asiatics Tenure Act, an apartheid law, prevented him from owning property in his personal capacity, so he purchased it as a charity, the basis of which was to educate underprivileged children.
The land is still owned by the Mia family and is held in trust for the Islamic Trust. The family still lives on the land.
About R217-million is to be spent on road improvements and upgrading, including a proposed new bridge at Allandale off-ramp and the widening and extension of many surrounding roads such as Maxwell Drive in Woodmead.
About 15 000 jobs are expected to be created in the development.
Most of the approvals had already been obtained, said Van Rhyn.
"We are awaiting the last few rezoning approvals. In the meantime, good progress is being made on infrastructure. Off-plan sales have already started."
Van Rhyn has been trying for six years to get the development up and running but has met resistance from the Mia family.
They did not want to proceed because of the land's religious status, which dictates the development must make a contribution to the community.
They eventually agreed, on condition that all profits due to the trust would go to educating underprivileged children. They also insisted on having a cemetery, public golf course and lower-cost housing as part of their contribution to community development.
The apartheid government tried to expropriate parcels of land several times and succeeded in getting land for Eskom's headquarters and for the N1 highway that runs through it.
Midrand residents have expressed extreme concern about the increased traffic and have prepared a petition. Councillor Annette Deppe said residents were demanding roads be upgraded before any development took place.
"Residents want Johannesburg mayor Amos Masondo to ensure bulk service contributions are paid by the developers towards upgrading and widening all local roads surrounding the proposed development," she said.
The project will be completed in phases and should take between five and 10 years.
Although there will be no bottle stores allowed, alcohol will be allowed in restaurants.