Roads department promises upkeep as Garsfontein Road works continue

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07-04-2026
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Pretoria Rekord
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Extra teams will patch potholes and remove rubble outside the main construction zone as the Garsfontein Road upgrade continues. Officials say the 30-month project will improve safety, capacity, and connectivity once completed.

As the Garsfontein Road upgrade progresses, the Gauteng Department of Roads and Transport (GDRT) has outlined additional measures to address concerns raised by road users and affected communities.

The department said teams will be assigned to conduct pothole patching at sections of the road outside the current construction limits as work is done in phases.

These teams will also attend to rubble removal and general upkeep, with the work to be carried out by the department’s internal road maintenance teams.

GDRT is undertaking the upgrading and rehabilitation of the province’s road network, focusing on key priority routes to improve road safety, enhance mobility and preserve critical road infrastructure across Gauteng.

Spokesperson for the MEC of GDRT, Lesiba Mpya, said the department’s rehabilitation projects include dualisation, pavement improvements, vegetation and roadside maintenance, as well as repairs to traffic signs and other road furniture.

“As part of the upgrade package, the department is currently undertaking a 30-month upgrading project of Garsfontein Road (K50) to support the Mooikloof Mega City development,” said Mpya.

The residential and commercial mega-project is a strategic integrated development aimed at providing access to lifestyle services for lower-income groups.

He said roadworks along Garsfontein Road are currently underway, with reconstruction and upgrade work progressing.

“Once completed, the upgrades will result in a divided four-lane road between January Masilela Drive and Loristo Street, including the installation of pedestrian lanes.”

He said, however, the department noted that some sections of the road falling outside the current construction limits will be maintained separately by internal maintenance teams.

Mpya said the upgrades are expected to significantly improve connectivity, increase roadway capacity, and enhance overall road safety.

He added that the contractor has implemented an approved traffic accommodation plan, which is continuously monitored to manage traffic flow during construction.

“Lane restrictions are currently in place at intermittent locations along the route, which is expected to result in slow-moving traffic and delays, particularly during peak periods.”

He urged motorists to approach the construction sites with increased caution.

The department also confirmed its willingness to engage with affected communities to find sustainable solutions to challenges experienced during the construction period. Stakeholder meetings are being held as part of this process.

He said GDRT further noted that no material contractual non-compliance affecting public safety has been recorded on the active section of the project.

In addition to the Garsfontein Road upgrade, the department is undertaking roadworks on several other priority provincial routes. These include WF Nkomo Road, Molefe Makinta Road, the N14 (Ben Schoeman), R25 (Bronkhorstspruit Road), R59, D331 in the West Rand, as well as the M1 and Hendrik Potgieter Drive in Johannesburg.

These projects were identified across the Tshwane metro, Sedibeng, the West Rand and the City of Johannesburg following comprehensive road condition assessments.

Gauteng MEC for Roads and Transport Kedibone Diale-Tlabela said the interventions are aimed at extending the lifespan of the province’s road network, improving road safety and supporting economic productivity.

She emphasised that all contractors appointed by the department are expected to deliver quality work within agreed timelines and budgets.

“The department has appealed to residents and road users for understanding and co-operation for the duration of the construction phase.”