MEDIAN BARRIERS ON N4 AT HELEN JOSEPH INTERCHANGE COMPLETE

Rustenburg – In an ongoing effort to ensure the safety of motorists using the N1N4 route, Bakwena Platinum Corridor Concessionaire (Pty) Ltd, (Bakwena) installed median concrete barriers on the N4 at Helen Joseph interchange in Rustenburg to prevent road users endangering their own lives and the lives of others’ by making illegal u-turns.

Bakwena’s commercial manager, Solomon Kganyago, said the toll concessionaire has noticed a significant increase in the number of crashes over this section due to illegal u-turns taking place.

Bakwena, together with the relevant authorities looked into a solution that would not create an additional hazard to motorists. The shoulders of the section were reduced from 2.5 to 1.5 metres to create space for the concrete medians.

The installation was done by Basella Maintenance and took approximately three weeks with stop/go’s in both directions to ensure the safety of motorists. A crash cushion has been installed at the end of the concrete barrier as an additional measure to protect vehicles.

Previous enhancements to the Helen Joseph interchange included:

• Widening of the embankments at the northern and southern terminals to allow for the provision of two through lanes northbound and southbound on Helen Joseph road itself.
• The provision of a dedicated right turn lane at the northern terminal.
• The provision of a dedicated left turn slip lane at the southern terminal.
• The provision of traffic signals at the northern and southern terminal.
• Enforcement by traffic authorities to prosecute vehicles which ignored the road signage and markings prohibiting ‘u’ turns.

We urge motorists to exercise patience, abide by the speed limit and obey the rules of the road as they are there for your safety and that of other motorists.

Bakwena press release, 23 July 2019