SANRAL yesterday said that they would also be implementing testing of the electronic toll collection system, covering all the main toll routes in the province.
The Witness yesterday reported that the N3 Toll Concession (N3TC), responsible for the N3 toll route between Heidelberg and Cedara, will be testing an alternative payment method that uses similar technology to the e-tolls in Gauteng.
In an effort to alleviate traffic congestion, to save time and to migrate towards cashless tolling, Sanral yesterday said they will be introducing testing of the optional electronic toll collection (ETC) payment method at its existing toll plazas.
ETC is distinctly different from the open road tolling on the Gauteng Freeway Improvement Project (GFIP).
Sanral spokesperson Vusi Mona said the system will complement the existing traditional toll collection method, which requires motorists to stop to pay a toll fee either with cash or a card.
South Africa is one of the first countries in the world to introduce the use of automated lanes and automated payment on its toll roads.
“This speeds up the traffic flow at toll plazas on the freeways, eliminates waiting time at booths and provides road users with a single toll bill for all their journeys.
“Sanral’s intention is to make the manner in which toll is paid as easy as possible,” Mona said.
Including the toll plazas between Heidelberg and Cedara, SANRAL will be testing the system at the following plazas:
• N3 Mariannhill
• N2 South Coast
• N1 North: Kranskop Plaza mainline and ramps at the Modimolle interchange; Nyl Plaza mainline and Capricorn mainline plaza and Baobab mainline plaza.
• N17: five mainline toll plazas include Gosforth, Dalpark, Leandra, Trichardt and Ermelo.
• N1 South: Grasmere, Vaal, Verkeerdevlei, and R30 Brandfort
• Diamond Hill
• Huguenot toll plaza