M1 bridge fire: Johannesburg motorists warned of delays due to road closures

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07-05-2024
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News 24
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• Sections of Smit Street in Braamfontein have been closed temporarily.
• The closures followed a fire on the M1 bridge last week.
• Motorists have been warned to expect delays.

Johannesburg motorists have been warned to expect delays as a result of the temporary closure of sections of a road, brought about by a fire on the M1 bridge in Braamfontein last week.

The Johannesburg Roads Agency (JRA) announced that the sections of Smit Street, underneath the M1, were closed as a safety measure, following the fire on Wednesday, causing traffic disruptions.

Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD) spokesperson Superintendent Xolani Fihla said those affected by the closures were motorists travelling east and west along Smit Street, between Braamfontein and Brixton, as well as those travelling on the M1 northbound at Smit Street from Braamfontein, and accessing Brixton via the Smit Street off-ramps from the M1 north and south.

"To navigate around the closure, motorists are encouraged to use Enoch Sontonga Avenue for east-west travel between Brixton and Braamfontein, Bertha Street and Jan Smuts Avenue to access the M1 northbound towards Sandton, and the Carr Street off-ramp from the M1 to reach Brixton," said Fihla.

For those travelling north and south along the M1, the Smit Street off-ramp allows for left turns towards Braamfontein. Eastbound travelers on Smit Street from Brixton can turn left onto the M1 northbound, while westbound travelers from Braamfontein can turn right onto the M1 southbound.

"JMPD officers are on site to assist with traffic management around the closure and its vicinity. Please plan your route accordingly and follow the directions provided for a smoother journey," Fihla added.

News24 previously reported that an expert would be appointed to inspect the section of the M1 bridge over Carr Street after a fire broke out inside a cavity on the southbound side of the bridge on Wednesday.

The fire occurred after cable thieves cut a high-voltage City Power cable that ran inside the upper deck of the bridge.

There have been instances of people taking shelter within the cavity along the bridge. Clothing, scrap, litter from the highway and other debris are also likely to have fuelled the flames.