Durban - Plans to upgrade two major interchanges on the N2 south of Durban have raised suspicions that Sanral still hopes to toll local motorists and commuters to subsidise the stalled N2 Wild Coast Toll Highway Project.
Environmental consultants acting for Sanral held two “public open days” in Durban recently to outline plans to upgrade the Isipingo and Adams Road (eManzimtoti) interchanges.
The projects involve increasing the height and width of two overhead interchange bridges, as well as other alterations to allow for future widening of the N2 south of the city.
Sanral has denied there is any link between the Durban upgrades and the Wild Coast toll plan, while the eThekwini Municipality has confirmed that it has been in talks with Sanral, which would fund the bulk of the project, with some financial contribution by the city.
Previous studies by transport consultant Gavin Maasdorp estimated that 31% of the total Wild Coast toll route fees would be collected at Isipingo alone, with further funding from new toll booths further south in KwaZulu-Natal.
The Isipingo interchange has traffic volumes of up to 57 000 vehicles in the morning peak period, raising concerns that money collected from Durban motorists could be used to subsidise new bridges and roads in the Eastern Cape.
The toll plan is on ice pending a court challenge by Wild Coast residents and behind-the-scenes government discussions on how to fund a new, shorter route between Durban and East London.
INTERCHANGE LINKS
Nevertheless, the consultancy groups CCA Environmental and NMA Effective Social Strategists have alluded to possible links between the toll road and the new interchange upgrades.
The two consultancy groups, both of which have done environmental impact assessments for the Wild Coast toll road, said upgrading the Adams Road interchange had been authorised during the toll road EIA process.
Ted Holden, of the Athlone Park Civic Association and Upper South Coast Anti-Toll Alliance, said: “I have no doubt these bridge upgrades are a precursor to tolling local motorists.”
His suspicions were raised further by two “red dots” on one of the layout maps, suggesting two new toll plazas or e-toll gantries.
“Once again, Sanral are up to their tricks, having been temporarily sidelined by the presidential infrastructure co-ordinating committee, which claims alternate funding will have to pay for the N2 Wild Coast toll toad. But who knows where this money will come from?”
Last year, major Durban industries, under the umbrella of the South Coast Business Coalition, launched legal action against Sanral and the minister of environmental affairs in the Pretoria High Court challenging the decision to approve the toll road without a social and economic impact assessment.
Aldine Armstrong, a Durban attorney who acted for the coalition, said: “The matter against Sanral was postponed indefinitely (not withdrawn) on the basis that Sanral provided a written undertaking not to toll that portion of road south of Isipingo in the foreseeable future.”
FUNDING NOT FINALISED
Responding to queries, Sanral spokesman Marshall Muthen said the “red dots” noted by Holden showed the location of bus and taxi lay-bys, not toll infrastructure.
On who would fund the Durban bridge upgrades, Sanral said design review meetings had been held with the eThekwini Transport Authority (ETA) for both interchange projects, to discuss technical aspects of the proposed designs.
“Widening of the N2 is not included in either of the two interchange upgrade projects. The funding is still to be finalised, but is envisaged to be a shared cost model agreed between ETA and Sanral.”
On whether the funding proposals might involve future tolling, Sanral said: “No detailed discussion has been held on the funding models for the interchanges as the technical designs have not been finalised. A cost-sharing model, similar to the funding of other interchanges such as Umgeni Road Interchange, is envisaged.”
On whether Durban motorists might still subsidise road-building in the Eastern Cape, Muthen said: “The two interchange projects are separate projects and not related
to the N2 Wild Coast Toll project.”
On the status of the Wild Coast road, he said: “The project has been reconfigured to exclude the KZN portion.”
The eThekwini Municipality said: “The city has had consultations with Sanral regarding upgrading interchanges and the widening of the N2. Sanral is funding the upgrades. The city does contribute to some of the interchanges based on the utilisation of the interchange by city traffic.”
Holden remained sceptical nevertheless, querying how the Wild Coast project would be funded.
“Sanral needs R8 billion to build just three bridges in the Eastern Cape for the new Wild Coast route. Where will they find that money? It will come from our pockets. This has become the longest environmental impact assessment process in South African history and it looks like we may have to fight all over again. Why should we have to pay for new road infrastructure in another province?” he asked.
Earlier this year, Rural Development and Land Reform Minister Gugile Nkwinti said the Wild Coast toll road was still on track and that he believed construction would begin in September.
The Mercury
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