Toll roads, or potholes
10/06/2003 21:01  - (SA)  

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Billions needed to fix roads Bad roads cost SA billions Toll roads raised R472m

Barnie Louw, Die Burger

Cape Town - The number of toll roads in the country are set to increase six times over the next seven years.

The expansion of the toll road network by 7 000km has become necessary because the country has barely enough money to maintain about 40% of the national road network.

Motorists will have to choose between paying more toll fees or damaging their cars on deteriorating roads, most of which are already older than 20 years.

The National Road Agency (NRA) said road use continued to increase, while financing of roads was consistently reduced.

The expansion of the toll road network would boost revenue, while reducing the NRA's financial burden.

The NRA explained that if government doubled its expenditure on roads, it would still take about eight years to reduce the maintenance backlog to internationally acceptable standards.

"It is clear that the treasury will not be able to provide enough funds to resolve the situation."

Timely maintenance on roads currently cost about R100 000/km. When maintenance is done three years later, the costs escalate to R600 000/km. Eight years later, the bill rockets to R1.8m/km.

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