Jakes Gerwel Drive Rehabilitation Update

The City’s Urban Mobility Directorate hereby provides a progress update about the rehabilitation of Jakes Gerwel Drive. The roadworks commenced in January 2025, and the project should be complete by March 2026, pending unforeseen delays.

The rehabilitation of Jakes Gerwel Drive is taking place between Viking Way and Voortrekker Road.

‘We would like to thank each resident and commuter for the patience and understanding they have demonstrated since we commenced with the work. This project is a major rehabilitation project as the material and pavement designs are more intricate, requiring unique activities and considerations that differ from those used in minor road rehabilitation projects which can be completed in considerably less time. This section of road reached the end of its design life due to the age of the existing structure and the high volumes of traffic, especially heavy truck traffic. The deep rehabilitation was therefore the best alternative and could not be delayed,’ said the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Urban Mobility, Councillor Rob Quintas.

‘I am pleased to hear that the asphalt works on site have commenced and look forward to seeing some visible progress over the next week or two. We know that these roadworks are frustrating, but we are working hard to complete the project on time, and provide a road that will benefit the community for years to come,’ said Councillor Quintas.

The majority of road rehabilitation projects in the city entails minor rehabilitation work. Depending on the design of the specific road rehabilitation, most designs include work in which material is taken out and new material can be brought back during the same week or even the same work shift.

The rehabilitation of Jakes Gerwel Drive, however, is different:

• The design required the removal of the lower layers of material that are currently in the road and bringing in suitable granular material from commercial sources
• The granular material is to be strengthened with cement to create a strong durable foundation for the upper structural layers and riding surface
• Cement requires a minimum of seven days to cure and to reach a strength that can carry construction traffic
• Only once the cement has cured, can the teams cover the cemented granular layer with a layer the traffic can drive on
• What is adding to the complexity, is the fact that the current material structure is inconsistent throughout the road section and various material testing and designs are required throughout the duration of the works to ensure that we achieve a uniform structure in strength that will be able to carry the traffic loading over its design life
• Only once a better understanding of the variability of the in-situ material has been established can the work progress faster

‘The contractor is limited to work within one lane per direction and not to work within peak hour traffic, or move any plant or vehicles in and out of the work closure during peak traffic hours to reduce the impact on the public traffic. Given that one lane is closed to traffic for an extended period, there would be no difference to the impact on the traffic if we worked any other hours, including during the nighttime. However, we will rehabilitate the intersections at night to reduce the impact on commuters as much as possible,’ said Councillor Quintas.

The City will inform the public once the night work is due to commence.

The directorate undertook a thorough review of the traffic management plan, and the team along with the City’s Traffic Services continuously apply minor improvements to ease congestion.

The situation remains challenging as all of the traffic moving along Jakes Gerwel Drive needs to cross over the northern railway bridge. A full-time traffic safety officer has been appointed to monitor and address safety issues on site at all times.

The contractor has experienced some delays, which include issues with underlying sand in the pavement structure, and rain delays. As such, it will seem at times that no work is happening on site. The rainy season will have an impact, but the contractor will use sunny days as best possible.