In
an initiative aimed at encouraging people to utilise public transport
and alleviating traffic
congestion on Gauteng’s freeways, the South African National loads
Agency Limited (SANRAL)
has launched the Gauteng Freeway Improvement Project(GFIP).
As
part of the project, an Open Road Toll (ORT) system will be implemented
along
Johannesburg’s highways. The ORT will be operated via automated
electronic toll collection
points and will prevent delays for motorists as there will be no physical
toll plaza’. Motor
vehicles will be fitted with a transponder in the number plates. This
will allow images of a motorist’s number plates to be captured
electronically as a vehicle
passes through the toll with the toll fees being debited off the motorist’s
account.
The tolls will be operational by April 2011 with gantries placed approximately
every 10
kilometres along most of Gauteng’s existing freeway network.
The highway tolls are for now, estimated to cost a motorist 50cents per kilometre, with final
confirmation on the actual cost to be announced by SANRAL at a later stage.
There will be a discounted fee applicable to frequent users. It is understood that heavy vehicles can expect to be charged up to seven times more the toll fee applicable to private cars.
By calculating the approximate distance travelled on the tolled portion of the highway for a day journey to and from work, the following information below provides an estimate of toll fees a motorist could incur.
JOURNEY
(ROUND TRIP)
SOWETO to SANDTON
2.7 km
R2.70
R54.00
