Long delays expected on N1

2010-03-11 07:12

The scene on the N1 at the Atterbury Road bridge, after an accident involving two trucks and three vehicles. (Jaco Marais, Beeld)

Pretoria - One lane on the N1 highway on Atterbury Road has been opened following an accident between two trucks and three other vehicles that resulted in a man being killed, the Tshwane department of community safety said on Thursday.

"The latest information regarding the N1 at Atterbury Road is that the southerly direction has now been open for traffic," spokesperson Console Tleane said.

"The N1 direction north will remain closed...there is a possibility that one lane on the N1 southerly direction may be closed later as work on the crane continues."

Accident

The accident happened on the N1 North under the Atterbury Bridge on Wednesday night.

A truck transporting iron rods plunged into a cement-mixing truck and three other vehicles before smashing into a crane at a roadworks construction site at 17:00.

The body of one man was found trapped underneath one of the trucks and three other people were injured in the accident.

Tleane said engineers worked throughout the night to stabilise the crane.

"Engineers worked throughout the night to stabilise the crane in the danger of [it] falling down.

"It was found that it moved by about a metre. A decision was taken that the best option is to dismantle it and rebuild it again so that no danger is posed to motorists."

Use alternative routes

In addition, part of the bridge that burnt will be "scraped" and rebuilt, said Tleane.

"We cannot predict how long this exercise is going to take."

Tleane said motorists intending to use the N1 should add 45 minutes to their travel time, or use alternate routes.
 

- SAPA