R8.5bn tolling system gears up

[ Johannesburg, 13 October 2006 ] - Phase two of government's project to upgrade some of  Gauteng's major freeways and equip them with electronic toll points is under way.

Project manager Alex van Niekerk, from the South African National Roads Agency (Sanral), confirms professional engineers have been appointed to conduct feasibility studies.

“It's a long process – the first part of the process concerned designing a conceptual proposal and inter-governmental consultation. The second part involves appointing professional engineers to conduct detailed studies into the feasibility of a project of this nature,” he says.

Other media have reported that, at an event this week in Johannesburg, transport MEC Ignatius Jacobs explained how the planned system would be able to toll motorists at selected points on SA's freeways, without having to disrupt the flow of traffic.

Van Niekerk explains that 5.8GHz active tag technology is being looked at for the tagging technology – which will be “read” by the electronic toll point. This technology was already implemented on the Platinum toll highway (N4), although not in a free flow environment.

Payment would be processed either through a direct link to the tag owner's credit card, or to a prepaid account for those who don't have credit cards.

While much interest surrounds this project, Van Niekerk cautions that the project must still get the necessary approvals at various stages, and will likely be a lengthy project.

“It's safe to say that no [electronic] tolling will commence before 2009 – and even that might be a little optimistic.”

Other reasons for this, he says, include the time it takes to design the project components, the public participation processes, gaining environmental approval, procurement and tender processes, and construction time.

The tender will be aimed at companies worldwide that have expertise in open-road toll systems. However, there are no further details on when this might be issued. “The project is in the early stages of feasibility, and consultation with the various stakeholders is ongoing,” notes Van Niekerk.

The aim of the user pay concept (tolling) is to repay the loans for upgrading the road, as well as to undertake maintenance, future upgrading and expansion.

Van Niekerk, also managing Sanral's i-Traffic project, says the two initiatives are quite separate, but information from each project will be used to the benefit of both.