More than 60% of South Africans already live in densely packed cities, and that number is expected to boom to over 70% by 2030, placing unprecedented pressure on metropolitan road networks.
As such, targeted upgrades to both major corridors, local street networks, and kerbside infrastructure will become increasingly important to sustaining economic activity and daily mobility. And private construction and infrastructure development partners will need to play a key role in helping cities design and deliver road networks that are better suited to rapid urbanisation, says Gap Infrastructure Corporation (GIC) Chairman Olebogeng Manhe.
To achieve this, he notes that urban road infrastructure must evolve into an integrated system rather than a collection of disconnected roads and intersections.
“Urban mobility depends on how effectively the entire network functions together. Highways and arterial routes carry large volumes of traffic into cities, but congestion often develops where vehicles enter dense commercial districts, interact with kerbside activity, or compete for space at busy intersections,” he says.
“When road upgrades are undertaken, contractors have an opportunity to address these pressure points. Corridor capacity, intersection design, surface durability, pedestrian access, and the availability of safe pull-in areas for taxis and ride-hailing vehicles all influence whether traffic moves efficiently or slows to a standstill.”
Commuter needs are rapidly shifting
City needs have changed drastically over the decades. Urban road networks were originally designed around shorter local commutes and lower traffic volumes. Today, many commuters travel long distances across metro regions to reach their places of employment. Major highways and arterial corridors must therefore function as high-capacity mobility backbones rather than simple connectors between neighbourhoods.
In practical terms, this means that city planners and transport authorities need to emphasise expanding and strengthening the corridors that carry the highest traffic volumes, with planning, design, and construction partners such as GIC supporting public partners in delivering these upgrades. One way to improve the flow of traffic along these key routes, Manhe says, is to introduce more interchanges into road expansion plans.
“When major routes intersect through traffic lights, vehicles must repeatedly slow and stop, often creating severe bottlenecks. Grade-separated interchanges allow those same traffic streams to pass continuously, which stabilises traffic speeds and markedly increases the number of vehicles a corridor can carry each hour.
“Strategic bypasses and ring roads can further ease pressure on dense urban areas by redirecting long-distance traffic away from city centres. Long-haul traffic tends to significantly impede the flow on highways, where bypass routes allow traffic to remain in motion without adding to congestion inside commuter corridors.”
Roads designed for how cities actually move
A common source of congestion within cities themselves occurs when taxis and ride-hailing vehicles pause in active traffic lanes or intersections to collect or drop off passengers, primarily because many streets lack dedicated drop-off areas. Dedicated pull-in bays and clearly marked drop-off zones can allow those vehicles to stop safely without disrupting traffic.
Urban roads must also better support the final stages of daily journeys, where commuters walk from public transport stops to their final destinations. Continuous sidewalks, safe crossings, and clearly designed pedestrian routes can ensure these movements take place safely without forcing pedestrians into active traffic lanes.
However, a common challenge with expanding roads inside dense urban areas is that buildings, services, and other infrastructure already occupy much of the surrounding land. In many cases, the most effective mobility gains will therefore come from optimising existing corridors rather than rebuilding entire networks. Surface quality, consistent maintenance, and improved traffic signal coordination can substantially improve how efficiently vehicles cross through busy districts.
“Urban mobility ultimately depends on how effectively road networks move people and goods between residential areas, economic centres, and service districts. Infrastructure development partners like GIC can help ensure infrastructure evolves with changing travel patterns while considering pressures such as capacity or the interactions between vehicles and pedestrians.
“Roads that are planned and designed around real travel patterns will determine how efficiently South Africans move through their cities, and local cities continue to function,” concludes Manhe.
