Soweto Highway
The recently completed Soweto highway is a new four lane N17 road link between Nasrec and Soweto and forms part of the future N17 and will link these two areas to facilitate movement between both townships. Affectionately known as “Nasweto Highway” by the project team, the development was tendered as a ‘Design and Build’ by SANRAL ( South African National Roads Agency Limited) to reduce the design and construction time.
A key feature on this development is the new four-lane underpass bridge under the main Soweto rail line. This structure will be the largest pre-constructed bridge structure in South Africa and will be jacked through the rail embankment into place.
Design
Design commenced in December 2007 with construction starting a month later. The chosen methodology of ‘design and build’ necessitated close co-operation and weekly liaison meetings between the design teams and the contractor to ensure that priorities and targets are communicated and executed appropriately.
The road starts at the Soweto Highway on the western end and links onto Nasrec Road in the east, a mere 6.2 km. In addition to this new link, the project also includes the rehabilitation and widening of 3km of Nasrec Road with a traffic circle facility at the N17 and Nasrec Road intersection.
A key component or feature of this project is a new multi-span bridge over the N1 using precast beams to minimise disruption to the on-going traffic below. These beams have a depth of 2m and are constructed adjacent to the N1 in a casting yard, transported and crane-lifted into position.
Challenges
On the road works side, the challenges of cutting through mine dumps and making effective use of the ‘slimes’ in the earthworks has come with its difficulties. Strict environmental management requirements have been incorporated into the design to ensure that contaminated runoff from the mine dumps are contained in retention ponds and only ‘clean’ runoff allowed into local streams .
Other challenges related to the other parts of the road works contract , included extensive protection and relocation of bulk water supply pipelines, high voltage power lines, oil and gas pipelines and slimes pumping mains.
Benefits
Previously the Soweto Highway only provided southern access to Soweto. For drivers this meant that if they were coming from the northern suburbs (e.g. Sandton), they would not be able to easily access Soweto.
The new highway link now seamlessly allows the adequate access. This new access contributes to the legacy developments as well as further preparations for the 2010 World Cup. Easy and quick access to Johannesburg’s two premier stadiums, Soccer City (Nasrec) and Orlando Stadium (Soweto) was an addition project catalyst and benefit of this road development.
