Plan your journey this Easter holiday season

Bakwena Platinum Corridor Concessionaire (Pty) Ltd (Bakwena) encourages road users to plan their journey in advance this Easter holiday period as busy conditions are expected along the Bakwena N1N4 route.

Bakwena can confirm that rehab works on the N1 will be suspended over the Easter holiday period and there will be no lane closures on the N1 route. There will however be one lane closures still in place on the N4 both directions between Wonderboom off-ramp and the R80 interchange due to the current rehab project, which is part of the regular routine/preventative maintenance being carried out along the route to ensure that the roads Bakwena is responsible for are in a condition that ensures the safety of all road users.

Bakwena spokesperson, Solomon Kganyago, says Bakwena is implementing various measures along the route and collaborating with various authorities to ensure the safety of motorists traveling the route.

Bakwena’s ongoing partnership with Motus Corporation and KIA South Africa will see an additional six patrol vehicles being deployed from Wednesday 5th April 2023 until 3rd May 2023 over the Easter, school and long weekend period in April. These vehicles will assist with visible policing, crash assistance as well as support to road users who find themselves in difficulty along the route.

For those traveling with e-tags, we encourage you to top up your e-tag before your journey to minimize delays using the dedicated e-tag lanes. Registered e-tag users can pay their accounts via the SANRAL Customer Service Centre, EFT, SANRAL Call Centres and selected Pick ‘n Pays or via the SANRAL mobile app. For your convenience, self-service terminals are situated at N1 Total Panorama Petroport, N4 Total Magalies Petroport & Kroondal Shell Ultra City eastbound, road users can get e-tags as well as top up e-tag accounts via CARD payment (cash top-ups not available at the SST’s) at these terminals.

Eliminate your interaction with toll plaza staff by taking advantage of the special promotion Bakwena is running in partnership with N4 Total Magalies Petroport whereby you get a FREE e-tag and 10% off your sit-down meal at the N4 Magalies Steers or Mugg & Bean, promotion is valid between 1 April 2023 to 1 May 2023.

If you don’t already have a car seat for your child, you can pop into the Total Panorama Petroport on the N1 on Thursday the 6th April between 10H00 to 14H00 where Bakwena in partnership with Wheel Well will have a limited number of car seats for all ages available for an affordable donation as well as FREE Secure-A-Kid harnesses. The friendly staff from Wheel
Well and Bakwena will be available to assist you with choosing and installing the correct seat for your child.

Over the Easter weekend, between 2000 and 2400 vehicles per hour are expected to pass through Pumulani and Carousel toll plazas during peak periods, says Kganyago. Road users are encouraged to plan their journeys to avoid travelling in the peak periods. Peak periods are expected as follows: –

N1 Northbound & N4 Westbound
Peak traffic is expected between 12H00 until 20H00 on Thursday 6th April and on Friday 7th April between 06H00 & 14H00.

N1 Southbound & N4 Eastbound
Peak traffic is expected between 12HOO until 20H00 on Monday 10th April and Monday 1st May 2023.

With the roads much busier than usual, Kganyago urges road users to take special care and apply the following safety measures when traveling:

  • Ensure your vehicle is road worthy
  • Ensure you get enough rest before your journey
  • Do not drive if you’ve consumed alcohol/drugs
  • Ensure you and your passengers are buckled up
  • Stick to the speed limit
  • Maintain a safe following distance of at least 3 seconds
  • Do not stop in “no stopping” zones
  • Stop and take a break at least every 2 hours during your journey
  • Bakwena’s Customer Care number 0800 BAKWENA / 0800 2259362 is available to assist road users in the event of an emergency while travelling the N1N4 route. Use the info on the blue km board markers when reporting crashes or requesting assistance

Bakwena wishes travellers a safe and enjoyable Easter holiday break. For live traffic updates over the Easter weekend, you can follow Bakwena on twitter: @BakwenaN1N4.