Wilde Things
| by Fingal Wilde
Who Moved my Freeway?
In June 1991 I moved to Johannesburg from Port Elizabeth. One of the first things that really impressed me was
the extensive highway system in Gauteng, particularly the ring road affectionately known by the users as the
“concrete highway”, and referred to by the people who lived within 100 metres of the highway as “that damn
noisy road”. Irrespective of what they were called, these freeways were great to drive on and great for getting
from A to B in an urban environment.
I
am not sure when these
highways, or freeways, were
constructed, but I think it was in
the 1970’s. An excellent example
of good town planning, and an
excellent example of good highway
planning, and a credit to those who
had the foresight to build these
roads, and to build these roads
from the funds available to them.
Their advantages include
high speed, greater safety,
comfort and convenience for
drivers and passengers, and
lower vehicle operating costs.
Many of these new express
highways, especially in the
United States, are toll roads,
but that is an incidental, not
an essential, feature”. So does
this give SANRAL a free pass?
And then, some forty
Upon examination of the
modern definition, the answer
is a clear and simple NO!
The key to this emphatic NO
is that all toll roads are NEW
EXPRESS HIGHWAYS.
years later along came
SANRAL, and repossessed
the roads that had been paid
for many moons ago.
All SANRAL has done is to
widen and doll up EXISTING
highways that have been there
for FORTY YEARS. It is quite
simply highway robbery.
My immediate reaction was
“who moved my freeway?”
I looked up the meaning of
“freeway” and two definitions
popped up: 1) an express
highway with no intersections,
usually having traffic routed on
and off by means of a cloverleaf;
and 2) a toll-free highway.
Aha, toll free. But, there is another more
modern definition: “a major arterial
divided highway that features two or
more traffic lanes in each direction,
with opposing traffic separated by
a median strip; elimination of grade
crossings; controlled entries and exits;
and advanced designs eliminating
steep grades, sharp curves, and other
hazards and inconveniences to driving.
Frequently expressways have been
constructed over completely new
routes, passing near but not through
large centres of population, on more
or less direct lines between desired
termini.
| words in action
64
april 2014
And now, for me and many
others who refuse to be
financially raped, we have to
use alternative routes that are
potholed and decrepit, simply
because the highway barons have found
a new way to milk the already cash
strapped motorist. It is shocking, it is
appalling, and it is WRONG.
Shame on SANRAL and
shame on our morally
bankrupt government. If only
the outraged motorists had
enough numbers to vote these
bastards out!