Route Update - June / July 2012
Thursday, 21 June 2012 18:37 | Last Updated on Thursday, 28 June 2012 17:33 | 
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Take extra precautions when weather is poor
Poor visibility, mainly due to heavy mist during early morning hours or at night, causes dangerous driving conditions. Road users are reminded to switch head lights on, increase following distance and lower traveling speed during adverse conditions.
Veld fires during the winter months
In the dry winter season and with strong winds veld fires often occur along the grassland areas adjacent to the N4. Smoke from the fires may swirl over the N4 and cause extremely dangerous driving conditions. Be extra cautious on the road during these conditions.
Report fires and/or dangerous conditions along the N4 to TRAC’s emergency help line:
0800 8722 64 / +27 82 881 4444.
UPGRADING, REHABILITATION AND MAINTENANCE WORK
Quality road infrastructure is an asset which benefits the economy, stimulates growth and development and provides a safe link between people and places. A road, however, needs on-going maintenance and improvement to ensure that it continues to add value.
As toll concessionaire of the N4 between Pretoria and Maputo, TRAC, is committed to provide a road of high standards. This requires regular road works which may inconvenience road users.
Current works along the N4
Gauteng
Donkerhoek to Diamondhill Plaza: (N4/2 km 3.0 to km 14.2 east- and westbound)
Uneven sections of the road surface are being milled and repaired. The eastbound slow lane is closed while repair work is done. Only one lane is open to traffic. Slow down to 60km per hour through the construction area.
Mpumalanga
eMalahleni: Highveld Steel to Swartbos (R544) interchange (N4/3 km 14.0 to km 30.2 east/westbound)
Grass cutting in the road reserve. Be cautious of slow moving tractors and grass cutters.
N12 split to Swartbos off ramp (N4/3 km. 32.4 – 29.5)
New water pipes are being installed in the road reserve by an independent contractor on behalf of the local municipality. The work should not impact on traffic flow.
CONSTRUCTION OF NEW CARRIAGEWAY
MIDDELBURG to HENDRINA/N11 EXIT (N4/4 km 6.6 – 19.4)
A new divided highway is being constructed which will consist of two eastbound lanes and three westbound lanes upon completion (approximately March 2014). The new carriageway is being built at a cost of nearly R200-million and will help ease traffic flow in this high traffic zone.
Current construction work may cause some delays. Take utmost care when traveling in a construction zone.
Hendrina to Arnot off Ramp (N4/4 km. 19.4 – 39.8)
Grass cutting in the road reserve. Be cautious of slow moving tractors and grass cutters.
Rolling Hills Golf Estate near Dalmanutha (between Belfast and Machadodorp)
An underpass is being constructed by an independent company at the new Rolling Hills golf development. All lanes on the N4 are now open to traffic, but construction work is still taking place in the shoulder lanes.
Machado Plaza to Elands Valley and Schoemanskloof
Fire breaks are being done which may cause smoke across the road.
Schoemanskloof: between Old Joe and Montrose (N4/6Y km 37.0 to 63.6)
Grass cutting in the road reserve and maintenance work including repairs of fences, signs and drains.
Ngodwana to Montrose (N4/7X km 0.0 km 22.8)
Repairs of fences, signs, drains and general maintenance.
Montrose to Schagen (N4/7X km 22.6 to 32.2)
Grass cutting along this section.
WIDENING OF THE N4 BETWEEN MONTROSE AND NELSPRUIT (Section 7B)
This section of the road is being widened to a dual carriageway and current construction work may cause some delays. Short, temporary road closures can be expected when blasting takes place at various points along the construction site.
Nelspruit Northern Ring Road
The Valencia link bridge is being constructed by WBHO. Although the Valencia link is not a TRAC project, it impacts on traffic flow along the Ring Road and may, at times, cause delays.
Construction work is also taking place at the intersection of Dr Enos Mabuza and the “old” N4 into town. Eastbound traffic is currently travelling contra-flow in the westbound lane.
Traffic is planned on being diverted onto a section of the new Valencia road early in July to enable the tie in of the “old” N4 onto the new freeway. Traffic will be moved over to the eastbound carriage way. Delays and long queues are currently incurred in the peak hours. This will continue until the construction of the new intersections at Enos Mabuza Drive has been completed. The temporary deviation has sharp curves. Please drive very slow through the deviations.
Nkomazi to Komatipoort
Grass cutting, de-bushing, trimming of trees and fence repairs in the road reserve.
Installation of road studs along certain sections of the road which will impact on traffic flow.
RE-SURFACING OF ROAD NEAR HECTORSPRUIT (N4/8x km 27.8 to 39.6)
Westbound lanes are closed to traffic from 08:00 to 17:00 while rehabilitation and re-surfacing of the pavement are undertaken. Traffic contra-flows on the eastbound lanes. Slow down to 60km p/h through construction area.
Uneven sections of the road surface in the Hectorspruit area are being milled and repaired. The majority of work is currently being done in the eastbound slow lane. Sections of this lane are closed while repairs are underway.
Komatipoort Weighbridge (N4/8x km. 64.5)
Uneven sections of the road surface are being milled and repaired. The eastbound slow lane is closed while work is underway.
Holiday traffic
The N4 toll route leads to many favourite holiday spots in the Highlands, Lowveld, Swaziland, Mozambique and the ever-popular Kruger National Park. Peak traffic conditions may be experienced at the start and end of the school holidays, and on Fridays (easterly direction) and Sundays (west, towards Gauteng).
The Innibos Arts Festival takes place in Nelspruit/Mbombela from 27 June – 01 July. The festival draws tens of thousands of people and a large number of them travel from Gauteng to Nelspruit. Expect peak traffic conditions, especially on Friday, 29 June (eastbound) and Sunday, 01 July (westbound)