Attorney Michael de Broglio on: South Africa, Law, Politics, Attorneys, Sport, Photography, Technology, Gadgets, Media, Crime, Road Accidents Fund,
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It was interesting to read that, after many years of speculation, Jan Smuts Avenue is finally to be widened. They are going to take the strip, between Rosebank and the Zoo, which is currently one lane in either direction, and they are going to turn it into two lanes in both directions.
To do that, they will have to reduce the width of the pavements and the project is expected to last 12 to 18 months.
I do believe that most projects in South Africa, when it involves work on the roads, take far too long. I cannot imagine why something like this cannot be done in 3 to 6 months and why it will need 12 to 18 months, and then probably run late on that anyway. It will undoubtedly cause chaos at our offices for some time and for everybody who uses what is a very busy road into the city centre. Hopefully, a lot of traffic will be diverted towards Oxford Avenue, but as pavements get chewed up, the road widened and construction takes place, it is going to be a difficult 12 to 18 months of driving in and out of our offices.
It sounds like this project is going to begin either late in 2018 or in 2019, but I guess the inconvenience will not be for the full 12 to 18 month period – it will be while they are directly outside our particular offices and busy with our pavement – reducing its size. The long-term benefit will be that traffic does not have to suddenly merge from two lanes to one and will flow far faster along Jan Smuts Avenue. Whether that is really such a big problem that it requires this to be done is another question. I can think of many roads in the Fourways area that need widening, long ahead of a small little stretch of Jan Smuts Avenue where I never really notice any major issues anyway – and however much they widen it, it is not going to reduce the problems that you find, as you head north in the afternoon along William Nicol to Fourways – that is where the real disasters begin.
Posted by Michael de Broglio on Thursday 05-Apr-18
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Comments
Cornelie said:
on Wednesday 09-May-18 09:19 AM
It would be great if they make Jan Smuts two lanes its a nightmare going home on Jan Smuts it is always busy and everyone is so inpatients but the road works that going with that I not seeing forward to.
Joyce said:
on Monday 07-May-18 11:14 AM
I think it is good news for Jan Smuts Avenue users. I think traffic will be hectic within the period of the project.
Sharne said:
on Monday 07-May-18 08:40 AM
Traffic is going to be hectic. But it will pay off in the end.
Jolene said:
on Friday 04-May-18 04:23 PM
I don’t go to JHB that often but I have never had a problem with traffic on Jan Smuts. It is great that they want to improve the road but traffic is going to be a nightmare.
Helen said:
on Friday 04-May-18 11:44 AM
I am not looking forward to this construction at all, it will be so difficult to drive out of the office in the pick time and it will take at least 30 min to get out of Jan Smuts.
But if to look at the positive side of this change there will be no more traffic when the project is completed!
Lucretia said:
on Friday 04-May-18 09:21 AM
I am eternally grateful they are widening the road. I often am so close to the office but going at snail pace because there are roads that turn off here and cars are wanting to turn and blocking the flow of traffic. Sometimes the stretch between the zoo and our office can take me 20 minutes and it is probably only a 5km stretch, if that. Granted I am not looking forward to the construction, will have to find back routes which will also be jam-packed for the same reason......
Henrietta said:
on Friday 04-May-18 08:48 AM
I get why they want to widen the road and believe it will certainly help the traffic but the inconvenience it's going to cause is going to be a hassle. For the 12-18 months it is going to take to widen the road we going to have a nightmare coming to and going from work. It's also a long road that needs to be widen so can not see why they would take so long, but you right road works in South Africa do tend to take forever.
Liz said:
on Friday 04-May-18 08:34 AM
This is going to cause absolute chaos, and I agree with some of the other comments that it is not completely necessary. Let us hope that if the project is undertaken it finishes on time with minimal hiccups.
Brenda Du Toit said:
on Thursday 03-May-18 03:38 PM
Traffic is going to get worse on Jan Smuts but I just hope everything goes smoothly. Maybe when they are done traffic will not be as bad as now
Sinead said:
on Thursday 03-May-18 10:28 AM
At first I thought this was a brilliant idea but the more I think about it, it's going to be a total disaster. At some point the road needs to merge back into a single lane and that is going to create so much chaos! Also, the traffic during the construction is going to be insane -___- Glad I don't use Jan Smuts too often....
Shristi said:
on Thursday 26-Apr-18 08:28 AM
I don't really think that the road needs to be widened. I travel on Jan Smuts daily to get to work and traffic is not an issue. It is definitely going to be chaotic.
Sarah said:
on Wednesday 25-Apr-18 07:58 AM
Traffic is going to get worse for a while. It could be a benefit for motor vehicles in the long run
Nicolle said:
on Friday 20-Apr-18 08:49 AM
Do I think that the road needs to be widened? No, no I don't. At the moment and for the past few years the single lane (either way) has never been cause for delay of concern. I do however have some strong feelings about the hundreds of trees that will be butchered in order to undertake this project. Over and above that, crossing the road as a pedestrian will become a nightmare, and, alas there is never enough parking at work, or close to work.
Jadine E said:
on Thursday 19-Apr-18 07:16 AM
Finally after so many years of speculation...It would be beneficial for motorists although there would be a lot of traffic and chaos for a lengthy period due to this.
Dune said:
on Monday 16-Apr-18 04:50 PM
Thank goodness I do not drive that road everyday anymore, it is going to be utter chaos during that period. Good luck to all the JHB employees!
Suzanne said:
on Monday 16-Apr-18 04:44 PM
I do not drive there often, but it does make life easier when traffic doesn't have to bottleneck. The only problem is, that it may cause a lot of issues and traffic while the finish it.
Prishani said:
on Friday 13-Apr-18 04:19 PM
I know we have to focus on their long term plan, I just hope everything goes smoothly and that the period will be a lot shorter than they predict.
Tamaryn said:
on Thursday 12-Apr-18 01:52 PM
12-18 months on that particular stretch of road seems extreme, and I agree that there are many other roads that need widening far more than Jan Smuts between Rosebank and the Zoo! In the years I have travelled to and from De Broglio offices, the least traffic has been directly outside the office.
Ashleigh said:
on Thursday 12-Apr-18 09:50 AM
Its great that they widening the road but until its done we can really look forward to struggling to getting to work. :( We park by woolworths so crossing the road will also be a problem with two lane's of traffic and more dangerous.
Zindy said:
on Thursday 12-Apr-18 08:58 AM
It will cause major delays if they work during peak hour traffic. As my child's school only opens at 6 so gives me an hour and a half to get to work every morning traveling 70kms so to think what time I would get here if they were to block our way. Not looking forward to this Chaos.
Jadine Richards said:
on Thursday 12-Apr-18 08:22 AM
I am really dreading this construction. It currently takes me approximately 5 minutes to get off Jan Smuts and I can only imagine when there is construction. Furthermore, I am not sure how we are going to cross four lanes to get the parking. It all just gives me major anxiety.
Tersia said:
on Thursday 12-Apr-18 07:43 AM
I was thinking the same thing as Megan while reading this, where are they going to find the space for this? And then where will pedestrians then walk, as we walk from around the corner where we park to the office but if they take the pavement away - what then? I just can't see that. I also think it's actually very unnecessary, the traffic on this road is not that bad. They should rather go and make an extra lane on the M1.
Nikita said:
on Wednesday 11-Apr-18 04:53 PM
In other countries this type of project would be started and finished before our country have even approved the project in government. I also think a lot of the reason as to why it takes so long is because it enables job creation. If you ever drive past people working on the road or digging for the water pipes it is usually only one person working and three other people watching that person do the work.
Michelle D said:
on Tuesday 10-Apr-18 08:11 AM
I honestly don't see much point in widening Jan Smuts for the small stretch before the zoo. It's such a minor part of the road anyway and traffic is not bad enough to justify the horror of traffic to come when the road is being built.
Mathilda Du Preez said:
on Monday 09-Apr-18 11:54 AM
As if there is not enough traffic as is
This will obviously be delayed as much as possible and cause as much inconvenience as possible
The only reason it will take 2 years and not 6 months like normal road works is because they want to extend the work time “creating new jobs” and obviously if it’s a set time there will be a set amount and because they do not have a set time the people can ask more and more money to repair the roads
Michelle said:
on Monday 09-Apr-18 07:50 AM
Chaos on the way. After the wait it will definitely be worth it.
patrick said:
on Monday 09-Apr-18 07:35 AM
My feeling is that it will start late 2018 as an election tool, to say that we are creating jobs. As you say, as soon as the elections are over, they will delay it just to make more money .
Melissa said:
on Friday 06-Apr-18 03:28 PM
I think it's a good idea to widen Jan Smuts but I am sure that traffic is going to be more of a nightmare than what it is now.
courtney said:
on Thursday 05-Apr-18 04:49 PM
I am excited to see what the roads will look like afterwards but the traffic is definitely going to be a disaster.
Megan said:
on Thursday 05-Apr-18 02:01 PM
I think they will be doing the construction in sections starting at the Zoo or at Rosebank which could mean approximately 6 - 9 months before reaching the office. I'm just curious about what and how much will be taken from each side along each lane, the pavement doesn't seem wide enough to create a new lane?
Fikile said:
on Thursday 05-Apr-18 12:44 PM
i think it's a good idea to widen up the road because in most cases their to many accidents in this small road so if the widen it a little it will help people, but i think it's going to be more busy at most more done what it is right now. but we are always happy of improvement
Angelique Jurgens said:
on Thursday 05-Apr-18 12:40 PM
Tenderpreneurs will definitely allow it to drag on longer in order to make extra money. What an inconvenience this is going to be but it has to be done. I honestly just cannot imagine there being 2 more extra lanes - where is the space?
Daniella said:
on Thursday 05-Apr-18 12:28 PM
It actually a double whammy if you think about it, because they are widening the road to reduce traffic congestion but for about a year or more traffic will be worst than it was before. However its not a bad idea if its a quick process.
Natasha said:
on Thursday 05-Apr-18 12:09 PM
I agree there is so many roads that they can widen. That will help a lot with the traffic.I also think that this is going to cause a problem when they star to make the road wider. I just hope it doesnt take as long as they predict its going to take.
Bianca R said:
on Thursday 05-Apr-18 09:19 AM
I can almost guarantee that this project will take longer than three years to be finished, much like the double decker highway that has been "under construction" for the past three years (their deadline was a year.) I will certainly be avoiding Jan Smuts until the construction is over, traffic is going to be a nightmare.
Nina said:
on Thursday 05-Apr-18 08:50 AM
It is frustrating that it takes so long to do work on our roads, especially compared to other counrties. But at least everyone is always very greatful when it is eventually done. I guess we can't do anything else but be patient.
Thabitha said:
on Thursday 05-Apr-18 08:23 AM
I don't want to see traffic during that period and 12 to 18 months for business its a long time especial for clients who need to come to the office
Clare said:
on Thursday 05-Apr-18 08:15 AM
This is going to make people really angre and its actually not needed as I see nothing but problems we are all going to effected here I cant leave home early to get her earlier because of Traffic , if it not the High way its the road works on Jan Smuts. this is going to be a nightmare I think we need to get a helicoptered and sky drive to the office.
Jessica Apfel said:
on Thursday 05-Apr-18 07:42 AM
It is going to be 12 - 18 months of sheer inconvenience! As said, I wonder if it were really necessary to widen Jan Smuts Avenue. Many businesses will be negatively affected during this renovation period. I sure am not looking forward to it - We all know how long the M1 took (which is yet to be completed)!
david said:
on Thursday 05-Apr-18 07:40 AM
it will be chaos at the office, but, i think it'll be a whole lot better than it is now.
i usually turn on my indicator at wells avenue, and then hope for a quick gap to quickly turn in. hopefully fears of being in a hit from behind accident will go.
Johannesburg based attorney specializing in personal injury matters including Road Accident Fund claims and medical negligence matters. My interests include golf, reading and the internet and the way it is constantly developing. I have a passion for life and a desire for less stress!
