Plan to reduce the number of trucks on highway
AN AVERAGE of 6 000 trucks are estimated to be moving thousands of tons of goods on the N3 each day, and now the Department of Transport is in the process of decreasing the numbers by moving at least 10% of the freight being transported by road to rail.
Although the plans were not concrete, Minister Fikile Mbalula, said they were working with Transnet in giving the matter “practical expression”.
“A number of innovative solutions are being considered that will expedite migration of cargo from road to rail in a number of corridors.
“This remains a critical part of our strategy to decisively arrest the carnage on our roads,” said Mbalula.
Ravi Ronny, design and construction manager at Sanral Eastern Region, said the last seven years had seen a substantial increase in heavy vehicles along the N2 and the N3. He said the major increase in the last 12 to 18 months had been bulk freight such as coal. Ronny said Sanral supported all efforts to improve the rail infrastructure and quality of service which could potentially result in the shift of rail-friendly cargo from road to rail and improve road safety.
“The recent spate of accidents is caused by driver recklessness and non-compliance with the road signage.
“The N2 north and the N3 are the busiest freight routes. The N3 forms part of the Durban-free State-gauteng logistics and industrial corridor, while the N2 is a key link between Mpumalanga, Richards Bay Port, King Shaka International precinct and the Port of Durban. The N2 further facilitates access to international borders with eswatini and Mozambique,” he said.
Ronny said the increase in truck volumes had an effect on the wear and tear of the roads.
“This necessitated what we have come to know as the N2/N3 upgrades which are currently under construction. These upgrades will include the widening of the N2 and N3 carriageways, with four or five lanes in each direction, and the reconfiguration of most major interchanges along these route sections. The N3 alone carries in excess of 75 million tons of freight per annum,” he said.
In an effort to curb road deaths, Ronny said they would continue their efforts to engineer safer roads and to work with law enforcement agencies and other stakeholders to intensify road safety awareness and education to put an end to the loss of lives on roads.
Thania Dhoogra, operations manager at N3 Toll Concession said over the past decade, a significant increase of between 8% and 10% per annum in the number of trucks on the N3 Toll Route had been recorded.