Progress accelerates on K50 upgrade despite public doubts

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29-07-2025
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Pretoria Rekord
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Work on the R517-million K50 Garstfontein Road upgrade in the east of Pretoria has surpassed 24% completion, with key road sections, stormwater networks, and spruit crossings under construction despite concerns from residents.

The Gauteng Department of Roads and Transport maintains that the K50 Garstfontein Road upgrade remains a strategic intervention, aimed at improving mobility, enhancing safety, and elevating the overall commuter experience along one of Pretoria east’s key arterial routes.

This assurance comes amid growing scepticism from some residents in the east of Pretoria, who have voiced concerns about the project’s progress, its ability to meet rising traffic demands, and uncertainty about what the final road infrastructure will look like.

The residents have also questioned when each phase will be completed, and if the upgrade will truly keep pace with the rapid development in the area.

Despite these concerns, the department has confirmed that the project – with a total budget of over R517-million – is now close to being close to a quarter complete, and continues to progress steadily.

The upgrade of one of Pretoria east’s busiest roads is expected to unlock and integrate major economic nodes in the region.

The half-a-billion rand upgrade of the K50 Garstfontein Road is seen as a key enabler for the Mooikloof Mega City development, and is apparently needed to match the growing population demand.

Dries de Klerk, a concerned resident, expressed serious doubts about the effectiveness of the current road upgrades in addressing long-term traffic demands linked to Mega City development.

“The current upgrade will contribute little, if anything, as intended to address the real traffic challenges posed by the Mooikloof Mega City, and the growing vehicle volumes it will generate,” he said.

He pointed out that the route from the Mega City to the Pretoria East Cemetery, near Matt Street, spans about 8km. Based on an average vehicle length of four metres, this distance would only accommodate around 2 000 cars.

“That’s nowhere near sufficient for the traffic volumes expected from such a large-scale development,” he said.

“Previous upgrades have focused mainly on easing access to Jollify Main Road and the city, but the eastern extension of Garstfontein Road remains a single-lane road to this day.”

He added that the real choke point lies at the Philadelphia Road intersection.

“Just a few hundred metres from Matt Street, Garstfontein Road narrows from two lanes to one, creating a serious bottleneck,” he explained.

“Anyone who’s driven eastbound at 17:00 will know exactly what I mean. The traffic backlog from Philadelphia heading uphill toward Jollify Main speaks for itself,” De Klerk said.

“Even if dual lanes were added between Philadelphia and Jollify Main, there would still be approximately 6km of single lane road, causing a daily bottleneck. If that stretch isn’t addressed soon, the current upgrades will fall short of delivering the long-term relief we need.”

Some residents have questioned whether the current upgrades along Garstfontein Road will truly meet the needs of future traffic volumes.

They say that while progress is being made in certain sections, the upgrade does not extend far enough, and not at residential intersections, and that’s where the main issues with the traffic lie.

They claim that without widening the remaining single-lane sections, especially around Philadelphia Road, congestion will persist and the benefits of the current project may be short-lived.

However, Ward 83 councillor, Andrew Lesch, has said that the K50 road upgrades are slightly ahead of schedule at the moment.

“While any construction is taking place, it is difficult to visualise the end product, and this project has been in the making for years, with inputs from many people.”

Lesch said, at the moment, a lot of work is being done that will not be visible to all.

“This includes stormwater drainage, and the moving of services such as fibre and electricity. I am convinced it will have a huge positive impact on the traffic in the area when completed,” Lesch said.

Lesiba Mpya, spokesperson for the MEC of Roads and Transport, said the upgrade represents a step in modernising the metro’s road infrastructure and alleviating traffic bottlenecks in key residential and commercial zones.

“This is a strategic upgrade aimed at improving mobility, safety, and overall commuter experience across a vital arterial road. It also supports broader city planning goals by enabling key housing and economic developments in the region,” Mpya said.

He said the project is currently progressing well and is almost a quarter complete.

At its core, the upgrade involves widening Garstfontein Road, from January Masilela Drive to Loristo Street, a 3.5km stretch from a single lane to a dual lane road.

In addition, 1km of Solomon Mahlangu Drive, from east of the Garstfontein intersection to Gilda Road, is being upgraded to four lanes.

“Both roads will feature pedestrian and non-motorised transport lanes, streetlighting, and newly designed intersections, with traffic lights, and dedicated turning lanes,” Mpya said.

He said the upgrade directly affects several major intersections and road sections that have long experienced congestion during peak hours.

Mpya said that despite some service clashes and redesign delays, construction is progressing steadily across multiple fronts.

Aesthetics and upgrades to take place along K50:

– The installation of new road signs

– The installation of new light masts along the route

– The installation of new guardrails where needed

– Extend and add to existing drainage structures where needed

– The installation and relocation of new traffic signals

– Landscaping: Spreading of topsoil on areas

– The construction of new pedestrian road crossings and pathways.