Toll fees hiked on Maputo Corridor

MOTORISTS using the N4 toll road linking Witbank in Mpumalanga to the Mozambican capital, Maputo, will have to pay higher toll fees as of March 1. Toll road operator, Trans African Concessions (Trac) chief executive, Arthur Coy said that rates would increase marginally at all three South African toll gates at Middelburg, Machadodorp, and Malelane. The annual increase is calculated against the Consumer Price Index (CPI), and is vetted by government to ensure that there is "no unnecessary profiteering,” he said. Passenger vehicles will now pay R27 at the Middelburg Plaza, R41 at the Machodo Plaza, and R31 at the Nkomazi Plaza. Heavy vehicles will now pay R117 at the Middelburg Plaza, R233 at the Machodo Plaza, and R130 at the Nkomazi Plaza. Coy said Trac’s micromanagement of the road had resulted in a “marked” decrease in serious and fatal accidents, as well as a 30% reduction in overloading in 2003. Trac will launch a R7m maintenance programme over the next three months to reseal and re-surface at least 26km of highway. (African Eye News Service)