Motorists should brace themselves for traffic congestion on Monday morning as maintenance work begins on the freeway, reducing the M1 north to only two lanes, the metro police department says.
Chief Superintendant Wayne Minnaar said the lane restrictions would reopen from the Oxford Road off-ramp in Parktown.
The maintenance work was expected to conclude in December.
Motorists who usually used the M1 North to travel from southern areas towards Sandton and Midrand were advised to use N1 Western By-pass, the N3 or the M2 Joe Slovo off ramp as alternative routes.
Those who opted to use the M2 Joe Slovo off-ramp could rejoin the M1 north in Houghton to avoid the Parktown section, Minnaar said. Work on the M1 south was expected to started on April 3.
Minnaar urged motorists to cooperate.
"Officers will be on duty to assist the traffic on roads leading off from the freeways," he said.
The Johannesburg Roads Agency apologised in advance for the inconvenience and urged motorists, residents and the business community to be patient throughout the project.
"The long-term benefits of a world-class M1 Freeway bridge network will far outweigh the temporary inconvenience during the rehabilitation phase," it said.
Source: News24
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