The M2 motorway between Crown Interchange and Maritzburg Street will close from 28 February and is expected to reopen at the end of October this year. JOHANNESBURG - Joburg mayor Herman Mashaba has on Monday announced the closure of the M2 motorway between Crown Interchange and Maritzburg Street from 28 February to allow for bridge rehabilitation to resume by the Johannesburg Roads Agency (JRA). The full closure of the motorway is expected to remain in force until the end of October this year. In a statement, Mashaba said following an investigation, various structural defects were detected at the bridge which poses a significant risk to residents. “The closure is necessitated by the continuous monitoring and the bridge visual conditions assessment which indicated that the structural integrity of the concrete elements is severely reduced. “The JRA realised that parts of the support structure have moved and that is affecting the structural stability of some bridges on the M2 motorway. The safety of the Selby bridge cannot be guaranteed for continuous use by motorists and thus the decision for a closure of the M2 between Crown Interchange and Maritzburg street is necessary,” Mashaba said. With the closure of the motorway, several on-ramps will be affected and motorists have been advised to use alternative routes. Here's how you can navigate your way around during the closure of the bridge: CROWN INTERCHANGE • The M2 eastbound will be closed between Crown Interchange and Heidelberg Road. • No traffic will be allowed to travel eastbound past the Village Road off-ramp at Crown Interchange. • Traffic will be allowed to enter the M2 westbound at West Street travelling towards Main Reef Road and the M1 southbound. • No access to the M1 northbound from the M2. HEIDELBERG INTERCHANGE • Traffic will be allowed to enter the M2 eastbound at Heidelberg Road on-ramp or Maritzburg Street on-ramp. • The M2 westbound will further be closed between Maritzburg Street off-ramp and Crown Interchange. • No traffic will be allowed to travel westbound passed Maritzburg off-ramp. ON-RAMPS TO BE CLOSED Main Reef Road on-ramp onto the M2 eastbound M1 approaching from the south, ramp onto the M2 eastbound M1 approaching from the north, ramp onto the M2 eastbound Simmonds Street on-ramp onto the M2 eastbound Eloff Street on-ramp onto the M2 eastbound Heidelberg Road on-ramp onto the M2 westbound from the south and the north Heidelberg Road on-ramp onto the M2 eastbound from the north Wemmer Pan Road on-ramp onto the M2 westbound Eloff Street on-ramp onto the M2 westbound Booysens Road on-ramp onto the M2 westbound M2 on-ramp onto the M1 travelling north ACCESS POINTS AVAILABLE TO AND FROM THE M2 Village Road off-ramp Heidelberg Road northern on-ramp onto the M2 eastbound Maritzburg Street off-ramp West Street on-ramp onto the M2 travelling west towards Main Reef or south towards Soweto. The following options are available for travel: Westbound traffic travelling towards Roodepoort from the east Keep on the N3 and make use of the N12 to access areas to the west and south of the City. Eastbound traffic travelling towards Germiston from the west Keep travelling on the N1 make use of the N12 and N3 to access areas to the east of the City. ALTERNATIVE ROUTES TO THE M2 WESTBOUND OFF-RAMPS Heidelberg Road exit to travel south • If you have previously used the Heidelberg Road exit to travel south along Heidelberg Road. • Take the Vickers Road exit to access Heidelberg Road. Heidelberg Road exit to travel north • If you have previously used the Heidelberg Road exit to travel north along Heidelberg Road, towards the CBD or Sandton via Joe Slovo. • Drivers are advised to take the Maritzburg Street exit, travel along Maritzburg Street until you reach Anderson Street. • Turn left to access the CBD. Joe Slovo on-ramp • To travel towards Joe Slovo Drive. • Turn right onto Nugget Street. • Turn right onto Marshall Street to access the on-ramp onto Joe Slovo Drive. • Alternatively, take the Ruven Road exit and travel along Main Reef Road until you’ve reached Anderson Street. Rissik Street off-ramp • If you have previously used the Rissik Street exit to travel north into the CBD. • Alternatively take the Maritzburg Street exit. • Travel along Maritzburg Street until you reach Anderson Street. • Turn left and travel along Anderson Street until you reach Rissik Street. • Alternatively, take the Ruven Road exit and travel along Main Reef Road until you’ve reached Anderson Street. Rissik Street exit • If you have previously used the Rissik Street exit to travel south along Eloff Street or west along Trump Street. • Alternative route; Take the Maritzburg Street exit. • Travel along Maritzburg Street until you reach Anderson Street. • Turn left and travel along Anderson Street until you reach Eloff or Simmonds Streets. • Turn left at either to access the areas south of the M2. Main Reef Road off-ramp • If you have previously used the M2 to travel towards Main Reef Road. • Alternatively take the Maritzburg Street exit, travel along Maritzburg Street until you reach Anderson Street. • Turn left onto Anderson Street, travel along until you reach Main Reef Road in Fordsburg. • Turn right and travel along Main Reef Road. M2 to travel towards Soweto via the M1 • If you have previously used the M2 to travel towards Soweto via the M1. • Alternatively take the Maritzburg Street exit, travel along Maritzburg Street until you reach Anderson Street. • Turn left and travel along Anderson Street until you reach Simmonds Street. • Turn left and then right onto Scott Street. • Turn right onto West Street to access the on-ramp onto the M1 southbound. M2 to travel north towards Parktown, Auckland Park or Sandton via the M1 • If you have previously used the M2 to travel north towards Parktown, Auckland Park or Sandton via the M1. • Alternatively take the Maritzburg Street exit, travel along Maritzburg Street until you reach Anderson Street. • Turn left and travel along Anderson Street until you reach Ntemi Piliso. • Turn right and travel along the Nelson Mandela Bridge. • Turn left onto Jorrison Street to access Auckland Park. • Alternatively travel along Anderson Street until you reach Pixley Ka Isaka Seme Street, travel along Queen Elizabeth Street and take the Smit Street turn off to get back onto the M1 northbound. • To travel towards Joe Slovo, turn right at Nugget and then Marshall Street to access the on-ramp onto Joe Slovo Drive. ALTERNATIVE ROUTES TO THE M2 EASTBOUND OFF-RAMPS M2 to travel east from the south of Johannesburg • If you are coming from the south along the M1 and used the M2 to travel east, exiting at Rissik Street, Mooi Street or Joe Slovo Drive. • Take the Booysens Road exit, travel along Booysens Road until you reach Marshall Street. • Turn right and travel along Marshall Street. • Use the on-ramp onto Joe Slovo from Marshall Street. • Alternatively take the Booysens Road exit and turn right at Klip River Drive, left at Turf Club Road and again at Eloff Street to access the CBD. M2 to travel east from the north of Johannesburg • If you are coming from the north along the M1 and used the M2 to travel east, exiting at Rissik Street, Mooi Street or Joe Slovo Drive. • Take the Village Road exit, travel along Village Road to reach Loveday, Eloff, or Mooi Street. • Alternatively take the Village Road exit. • Turn left at Pixley Ka Isaka Seme Street. • Turn right at Marshall Street to access CBD. • Travel along Marshall Street. • Use the on-ramp onto Joe Slovo from Marshall Street. M2 to travel east of Johannesburg • If you are coming from the west along Main Reef Road and used the M2 to travel east, exiting at Rissik Street, Mooi Street or Joe Slovo Drive. • Continue straight along Main Reef Road. • Turn right at Marshall Street to access the CBD. • Travel along Marshall Street. • Use the on-ramp onto Joe Slovo from Marshall Street. M2 travel using Heidelberg Road off-ramp<doc-sep>Mashaba told a news briefing that the M2 eastbound was closed last year in October and it had just been established that the westbound infrastructure had shifted, so now the motorway had been completely shut. Motorists using the busy Booysens, Main Reef, Simmonds and Heidelburg routes are among those who will be affected, as the on-ramps will be closed. This comes after Mashaba raised concerns last year over the stability of the Karzene and Selby sections of the M2 bridge, which posed a threat to road users. The Kaserne bridge has been closed since last year due to major cracks. The Johannesburg Roads Agency (JRA) previously flagged its concern that of the 902 bridges managed by the city, only 6% were in good condition. It said the remaining 94% needed immediate intervention. A staggering R6.5bn is needed to refurbish all the city's bridges - money the city does not have, according to Mashaba. TimesLIVE reported last year that the city was facing an overall R170bn infrastructure backlog and that the bridges on the M2 were of particular concern.<doc-sep>National Part of Joburg’s M2 to be closed for structural repairs The JRA has previously noted concern that of the 902 bridges managed by the city‚ only 6% were in good condition BL PREMIUM A significant portion of M2 motorway will be closed for at least eight months from Thursday February 28 to allow for bridge rehabilitation‚ City of Johannesburg mayor Herman Mashaba announced on Monday. The motorway, which links the East Rand to the Johannesburg CBD, makes up a significant portion of one of the major routes to OR Tambo International Airport. It will remain completely closed between the Crown interchange and Maritzburg street until the end of October. Mashaba told a briefing that the M2 eastbound was closed in October 2018 and that it had just been established that the westbound infrastructure had shifted‚ so now the motorway had been completely shut. Motorists using the busy Booysens‚ Main Reef‚ Simmonds and Heidelberg routes are among those who will be affected‚ as the on-ramps will be closed. This comes after Mashaba raised concern in 2018 over the stability of the Karzene and Selby sections of the M2 bridge‚ which posed a threat to road users. The Kaserne bridge ...<doc-sep>
Citizen reporter The motorway will be closed in between the Crown Interchange and Maritzburg Street likely until October. The Johannesburg Roads Agency (JRA) has announced that they will be closing parts of the M2 motorway for rehabilitation from February 28, citing “structural defects” as the reason. According to the JRA, the safety of the Selby section of the M2 bridge could not be assured and therefore had to be closed. A statement from the Johannesburg transport department says Joburg mayor Herman Mashaba had previously raised concerns about the Karzene and Selby sections of the M2 bridge, which he said “posed a danger to road users” and needed to be closed for repairs. The motorway will be closed between the Crown Interchange and Maritzburg Street in Johannesburg. The closure of the motorway – expected to last until October 2019 – will affect several on-ramps, which will have to be closed, and affected motorists are advised to seek alternative routes. Mashaba has posted a link to a live video feed of him brief media on the closure. Today, I'm briefing the media on the full closure of the M2 Bridge https://t.co/iBKLfBa09U — Herman Mashaba (@HermanMashaba) February 18, 2019 #JoburgUpdates STATEMENT: City to brief residents on major announcement regarding M2 Bridge ^GZ pic.twitter.com/Ic98pjH5vM — City of Joburg (@CityofJoburgZA) February 18, 2019 The safety of the Selby bridge cannot be guaranteed for continuous use by motorists and thus the decision for a closure of the M2 between Crown Interchange and Maritzburg street is necessary. #M2FullClosure @CityofJoburgZA @CoJTransport — Joburg Roads Agency (@MyJRA) February 18, 2019 The M2 Selby and Karsene bridge repairs and rehabilitation work is underway and the planned completion date is end of October 2019. #M2FullClosure @CityofJoburgZA @CoJTransport — Joburg Roads Agency (@MyJRA) February 18, 2019 (Compiled by Daniel Friedman) For more news your way, download The Citizen’s app for iOS and Android.