M1 (Johannesburg)
Encyclopedia
The M1 De Villiers Graaff motorway is a major freeway in Johannesburg
, South Africa
. The highway connects the southern areas (including Booysens, Eldorado Park and Soweto
) with the city centre
and extends further north through Sandton. Construction began in 1975 and resulted in the demolition of many properties and houses including numerous historical Parktown Mansions
.
The M1 officially starts at the Uncle Charlies Interchange with the N12 Southern Bypass in Ridgeway. It follows a route north towards the city and meets the M2 highway
at the Crown Interchange (which is immediately south-west of the city centre). The M1 then proceeds north through the leafy northern suburbs of Johannesburg, and the industrial area separating Sandton and Alexandra. The highway's northern terminus is at the Buccleuch Interchange where it meets with the N1 Western Bypass and the N3 Eastern Bypass. The part of the M1 in Sandton, roughly between Corlett Drive and the Buccleuch Interchange is maintained by the Gauteng Department of Roads and Transport (part of the Gauteng Provincial Government
), while the remainder is maintained by the Johannesburg Roads Agency (JRA)http://www.iol.co.za/news/south-africa/missing-drain-covers-may-be-crucial-in-probe-1.224810. The section maintained by the Gauteng Provincial Government is also designated the P206-1http://www.gautengwayleaves.gov.za/downloads/Road%20Atlas%20(Provincial%20Maps%202%20of%204)77.Zip.
Speed limits, which are strictly enforced, change as one gets nearer to the centre of Johannesburg, dropping from 120 km/h on the provincial government maintained stretch in Sandton, to 100 km/h as it runs through the Northern Suburbs of Johannesburg (from the start of the JRA maintained section before Corlette Drive), finally dropping to 80 km/h near the city centre.
during a typical rush hour. Several proposed public transport systems, including bus rapid transit
and the (Gautrain
) railway system aim to alleviate some of the traffic on the M1.
Johannesburg
Johannesburg also known as Jozi, Jo'burg or Egoli, is the largest city in South Africa, by population. Johannesburg is the provincial capital of Gauteng, the wealthiest province in South Africa, having the largest economy of any metropolitan region in Sub-Saharan Africa...
, South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
. The highway connects the southern areas (including Booysens, Eldorado Park and Soweto
Soweto
Soweto is a lower-class-populated urban area of the city of Johannesburg in Gauteng, South Africa, bordering the city's mining belt in the south. Its name is an English syllabic abbreviation for South Western Townships...
) with the city centre
Central Business District (Johannesburg)
The Central Business District, commonly called Johannesburg CBD, is one of the main business centres of Johannesburg, South Africa. It is the most dense collection of skyscrapers in Africa, however due to white flight and urban blight, many of the buildings are unoccupied as tenants have left for...
and extends further north through Sandton. Construction began in 1975 and resulted in the demolition of many properties and houses including numerous historical Parktown Mansions
Parktown mansions
The mansions of Parktown are an important part of the history of the city of Johannesburg. They were the homes of the Randlords, accountants, military personnel and other influential residents of early Johannesburg, dating back as early as the 1890s...
.
The M1 officially starts at the Uncle Charlies Interchange with the N12 Southern Bypass in Ridgeway. It follows a route north towards the city and meets the M2 highway
M2 (Johannesburg)
The M2 is a major highway in Johannesburg, South Africa. It is named the Francois Oberholzer Freeway. It runs just to the South of the Central Business District eastwards where it connects with the N3 . The north-south M1 intersects with the M2 just to the east of the CBD....
at the Crown Interchange (which is immediately south-west of the city centre). The M1 then proceeds north through the leafy northern suburbs of Johannesburg, and the industrial area separating Sandton and Alexandra. The highway's northern terminus is at the Buccleuch Interchange where it meets with the N1 Western Bypass and the N3 Eastern Bypass. The part of the M1 in Sandton, roughly between Corlett Drive and the Buccleuch Interchange is maintained by the Gauteng Department of Roads and Transport (part of the Gauteng Provincial Government
Gauteng
Gauteng is one of the nine provinces of South Africa. It was formed from part of the old Transvaal Province after South Africa's first all-race elections on 27 April 1994...
), while the remainder is maintained by the Johannesburg Roads Agency (JRA)http://www.iol.co.za/news/south-africa/missing-drain-covers-may-be-crucial-in-probe-1.224810. The section maintained by the Gauteng Provincial Government is also designated the P206-1http://www.gautengwayleaves.gov.za/downloads/Road%20Atlas%20(Provincial%20Maps%202%20of%204)77.Zip.
Speed limits, which are strictly enforced, change as one gets nearer to the centre of Johannesburg, dropping from 120 km/h on the provincial government maintained stretch in Sandton, to 100 km/h as it runs through the Northern Suburbs of Johannesburg (from the start of the JRA maintained section before Corlette Drive), finally dropping to 80 km/h near the city centre.
Congestion
The experiences significant traffic congestionTraffic congestion
Traffic congestion is a condition on road networks that occurs as use increases, and is characterized by slower speeds, longer trip times, and increased vehicular queueing. The most common example is the physical use of roads by vehicles. When traffic demand is great enough that the interaction...
during a typical rush hour. Several proposed public transport systems, including bus rapid transit
Bus rapid transit
Bus rapid transit is a term applied to a variety of public transportation systems using buses to provide faster, more efficient service than an ordinary bus line. Often this is achieved by making improvements to existing infrastructure, vehicles and scheduling...
and the (Gautrain
Gautrain
Gautrain is an mass rapid transit railway system in Gauteng Province, South Africa, which links Johannesburg, Pretoria, and OR Tambo International Airport...
) railway system aim to alleviate some of the traffic on the M1.