South Africa’s Never-Ending Road Construction Project

Key Takeaways

• The K60 corridor, a long-awaited road project, has finally broken ground, promising to improve mobility and growth in Gauteng’s northern region.
• The new 5km stretch of road will connect Sunninghill, Waterfall City, and Midrand, reducing congestion and travel time.
• The project is expected to take 24 months to complete and will provide better access to businesses and services, creating job opportunities and improving infrastructure.
• The completion of the K60 will add value to properties in the vicinity, attract businesses, and enhance the community’s infrastructure and economy.

Introduction to the K60 Corridor
The K60 corridor, a crucial transport project, has finally broken ground after decades of planning and delays. The new 5km stretch of road will link Sunninghill, Waterfall City, and Midrand, delivering a significant boost to mobility and growth in Gauteng’s northern region. This development promises smoother, faster connections across the region, improving access between Regions A and E and connecting surrounding suburbs to both provincial and national routes.

Project Goals and Design
The Gauteng department of roads and transport describes the K60 as "a single-carriageway provincial road aimed at improving connectivity, reducing congestion and stimulating economic growth in the northeastern transport corridor". The project has been welcomed by councillors, developers, and residents, despite the temporary disruption caused by construction. According to the department’s project implementation presentation, a full design and environmental impact assessment have been completed for Section 5 of the K60 route.

Community Engagement and Oversight
At a presentation to residents, the department outlined measures to ensure community engagement and oversight during the construction process. A community liaison officer will be appointed to act as a bridge between contractors, engineers, and residents, ensuring transparent recruitment of local labour, timely community updates, and fair dispute resolution. The department is also strengthening compliance, recruiting critical technical skills, and partnering with law enforcement and private contractors to ensure delivery.

Benefits and Impact
The CEO of the Waterfall Management Company welcomed the project, saying it will reduce travel time to OR Tambo Airport and from the East to West Rand. It will also reduce traffic on the old Johannesburg/Pretoria road and other roads in the immediate environment, creating many job opportunities and improving infrastructure. Ward 132 councillor Annette Deppe said the long-awaited K60 will connect Sunninghill to Klipfontein, greatly improving connectivity between communities and making daily commutes smoother and more efficient.

Regional Connectivity and Long-term Benefits
The enhanced connectivity provided by the K60 will lead to increased interest from businesses looking to invest in the area, further boosting property values over time. Deppe noted that the long-term benefits, besides higher property values and better quality of life, will far outweigh any short-term inconvenience. The completion of the K60 will form a crucial east-west artery, linking commercial and residential zones previously separated by congestion and fragmented road planning.

A Project Decades in the Making
First conceived in the 1980s, the K60 has long symbolized both Joburg’s infrastructure ambitions and bureaucratic delays. The project’s completion will represent a lasting investment in Gauteng’s future transport network, serving as a crucial link between Sunninghill, Paulshof, Waterfall City, Klipfontein View, and Ivory Park. The affected areas include Sunninghill, Paulshof, the Waterfall City/Allandale precinct, and Ivory Park. The department expects the project to take about 24 months to complete, depending on weather and utility relocation.