THE National Roads Agency (NRA) has initiated several highway upgrades and the building of new roads in the North West (N4) and Northern Province (N1), but they come with a heavy price for no less than four tollgates are to be implemented in the North West and two more in the Northern Province, a fact which - industry leaders believe - will practically kill tourism to these areas.
Acting chief executive officer for the Northern Province Tourism Board (NPTB), Arrie Horn, told Travel Now that the two proposed tollgates between Pretoria and Warmbaths, known as the Platinum Highway Project - whose fees collectively amount to R24,80 - will "severely affect" tourism to the Northern Province.
"We are concerned, that as a weekend destination, our tourist figures will be dramatically reduced as people already resent paying such high fees."
According to Manuella Pallamar, managing director for Mabula Game Reserve and an executive committee member of the NPTB, the tollgate fees between Louis Trichardt and Pietersburg - which reportedly amount to approximately R60 - are already higher than the collective fees between Durban and Johannesburg.
"And now they want to introduce more fees. This is not in our interest and we intend to fight this."
Horn's other objection is that he feels the NRA is "trying to sneak this through the back door".
He says he forwarded a letter to environmental consultant Nanette Hattingh, from Bohlweki Environmental - a company contracted by the NRA carry out an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and to co-ordinate the project - explaining that he, and 19 other tourism stakeholders, had not been consulted and that they questioned the "transparency" of the process.
"The letter was sent on May 25 and we still have had no response."
Hattingh says she had received the letter and intended responding by inviting all 19 stakeholders to "small focus group" meetings to inform them of the plans and obtain input as plans have by "no means been finalised".
"As for the concerns about the price, they're welcome to submit solutions and suggestions to the consortium, which is working in conjunction with the NRA and constitutes engineers, construction companies and local international toll road consultants. However, exemption from toll fees is definitely not something they will consider. It just defeats the purpose."
She suggests it may be possible for commuter traffic or regular users of the tollgate to negotiate a concession price, but adds that "it is still up to the consortium".
According to Hattingh, it's either a question of the roads not being upgraded or maintained or that they are upgraded, regularly maintained and kept safe, but at a price that makes it possible for this to be done.
"We plan to not only upgrade existing roads to handle more traffic, but to have regular patrols in the area - by a company which will be tendered - and SOS services along the way."
Construction on resurfacing and widening the N1 Pretoria to Warmbaths road will begin by the end of the year and it is anticipated that the two tollgates will be "up and running" by the end of 2001, she explains.
The NRA will also upgrade roads in the North west Province including the existing N4 from Lebatse to Zeerust, while a new road will be constructed west of Rustenburg, running parallel with the existing N4 up to Buffelspoort where it again links up with the N4 from Buffelspoort to Brits.
At Brits, another new road will be constructed to Pretoria, subsequently creating an alternative route to the existing route which travels via Hartbeespoort.
(Adéle Mackenzie)
