Launched during the re-opening of the Snake Road (R23) in Benoni together with officials from the City of Ekurhuleni this morning, 05 October 2020, the campaign seeks to raise awareness about the Department’s strategy for the current term, which is – Growing Gauteng through Smart Mobility.
“With the re-opening of this road, we are shining the light on the importance of a smart transport infrastructure as the connector of different sectors of the economy in the province and the country. Our Smart Mobility concept prioritises investments in transport infrastructure as one of its pillars,” remarked Public Transport and Roads Infrastructure MEC Jacob Mamabolo.
He said that the re-opening of R23 would assist in facilitating the easy movement of goods and people within Ekurhuleni and across Gauteng City Region, which would contribute to economic growth.
Snake Road has been closed since November 2020 after the development of a sinkhole. This resulted in chronic congestion on roads surrounding the Benoni central business district. In February 2020, the Department undertook major rehabilitations on the road to the tune of R17 million.
Snake Road is also a major arterial and local distributor route linking the N12 freeway and northern and southern areas of Benoni to the N17.
“Transport infrastructure, mainly roads like this one play a critical role for Gauteng as the inland hub for freight and logistics. Goods and services from the harbours that are destined for our country and other strategic destinations in Africa and across the globe pass through Gauteng. It is for that reason our Smart Mobility concept focuses on making the movement of goods and people more efficient, safe and contribute to protecting the environment,” added Mamabolo.
Over the month-long campaign, the Department will be unveiling its project portfolio which it will be delivering over the next three years as part of improving the province’s road infrastructure. DRT will also be presenting to the people of the province various interventions that are being put in place across the transport value chain to position Gauteng as the inland hub for the efficient and safe movement of goods.
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