Drivers still avoiding e-toll routes

File photo: Karen Sandison

File photo: Karen Sandison

Published Dec 4, 2013

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Traffic was heavy on Johannesburg roads on Wednesday morning as motorists continued to avoid provincial tolled highways, Johannesburg metro police said.

“Over and above, people are using alternative routes and they have been avoiding the N1, N3, and N12 since yesterday,” spokeswoman Edna Mamonyane said.

She said traffic on the M1 North to the Johannesburg city centre was very heavy. The flow was also affected by traffic lights not working at major intersections.

Mamonyane said she did not know how long motorists would avoid the tolled routes.

“We cannot say if motorists will eventually get e-tags or not at all.”

Democratic Alliance Gauteng MPL Neil Campbell said the alternative routes were not viable.

“One of the roads on this list of alternatives is Witkoppen Road which already carries a huge volume of traffic and has a collapsing bridge.”

Prominent engineers had expressed serious concerns regarding motorists' safety on the road but nothing had been done to fix the bridge.

“I hope no lives are lost before this process is complete as the blame for any loss of life will then rest squarely on the shoulders of Gauteng roads and transport MEC Ismail Vadi.”

Vadi's spokeswoman Octavia Mamabolo could not be immediately reached for comment. -Sapa

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