Pretoria - Motorists will not pay more in toll tariffs as a result of the warping that has occurred on a small section of the Gauteng Freeway Improvement Project (GFIP), the Transport Department said.
"The warping was identified by SANRAL in October 2010, well before the media reports, and a task team of pavement and material experts have been attending to the matter. Any defects on the GFIP toll network will not result in an increase in toll tariffs," Minister Sibusiso Ndebele said in a statement.
He was reacting to reports that claimed motorists could end up paying for the repairs on top of the already confirmed toll fees for the province.
The warping affects some 12km of the N1 between Beyers Naude and Malibongwe off-ramps.
Ndebele's office said the warping had occurred in relatively small areas, considering that approximately 1.7 million tons of asphalt was manufactured to surface some 13.5 million square metres of roadway.
"The contractual arrangements make provision for a defects liability period, and any defects, of whatever nature, that manifest are repaired by the contractor. We want to assure South Africans that government will not accept any sub-standard construction on any of our roads. As the Department of Transport, we will ensure that the highest standards are always maintained," it said.
Ndebele said an investigation was underway, adding that the responsible party will be made to pay for the repairs. - BuaNews
