Heavy peak hour traffic has meant that most of the work being done on the new R160-million, Blue IQ-backed Pomona/Atlas Road interchange near Kempton Park on Johannesburg’s East Rand has had to be done during off-peak hours.

The project, which is funded by the Gauteng Provincial Administration’s Blue IQ initiative and Gautrans, is intended to 'open' up the area which has been identified as an industrial development zone (IDZ).

The upgrade to the existing R21 between the Voortrekker and Pomona road off and on ramps, just opposite the Johannesburg International Airport, includes the construction of an interchange similar to the well-known Giloolys interchange and incorporates five bridges. Eventually the interchange will link the R21, Atlas road and Great North road. Provision has also been made for the construction of an alternative access route to Johannesburg’s International Airport in future.

VelaVKE MME are the consultants on the project and a joint venture, Grinaker-LTA, Thamane, Yikusasa are the main contractors on site.

Much Asphalt, has been contracted to supply 30 000 t of continuously graded medium asphalt and 9 000 t of a styrene bitudene styrene modified stone mastic asphalt (SMA) for the project.

Asphalt will be laid on a total of 334 704 m2 of road and, in terms of the stringent traffic regulations.

Engineering News 2004/05/21