Currently the GFIP is in its first phase, which is over 33% complete. This R15.1-billion (€1.4-billion) phase will see upgrades, including lane widening, better interchanges and improved lighting, to 185km of the Gauteng freeway network by 2011.

These upgrades alone are not enough to support Gauteng’s expected growth according to the South African National Roads Agency (SANRAL). The agency has planned further phases which include 223km of upgrades and 158km of new roads.

According to SANRAL senior project manager Alex van Niekerk, new freeway construction could “probably start in 2013” and that the total GFIP covers 561km, including upgrades and new freeways.

“Yes, there is an economic downturn now, but it will pick up again,” says Van Niekerk, commenting on the expected future congestion on the network.
Van Niekerk believes the first new freeway would probably be built to alleviate congestion between Johannesburg’s international airport and the city centre.

The construction of the PWV 14 would see the M2 freeway, which runs past the south of the CBD, extended east to meet the R21, allowing an alternate link from the airport to the CBD.

The upgrades for phase one will be funded through tolling, which is planned to start in 2011.