Johannesburg traffic

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J25

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I need some advice with regards to traffic in Johannesburg.

How long do you estimate it will take to commute from Sandton (areas along the M1, sandown, morningside, etc) down to Baragwanath in peak traffic, as well as off-peak times. On Google maps it's about 20-30kms, depending where in Sandton you are. I have asked a number of people in Johannesburg how long this will take, but it seems everyone is just speculating wildy, as some say it's way too far, and other's say it is reasonable.

Does anyone have experience with this actual route that can give an indication of how long it will take?

I would guess that traffic going out of Sandton to Soweto would be against the main flow?
 
Getting past the CBD is the main issue, during peak times the South bound route is manic. Peak times in that area are 3 -7 PM.

During offpeak times you could be lucky and do the trip in 40 mins, peak might take you up to 2 hours.

Honestly if you are looking for a place to live then Sandton is bad for traveling to Bara.... the best is to live as close to the CBD as possible or live on the west rand (14th Ave) and take the N1
 
Nerfherder said:
Getting past the CBD is the main issue, during peak times the South bound route is manic. Peak times in that area are 3 -7 PM.

During offpeak times you could be lucky and do the trip in 40 mins, peak might take you up to 2 hours.

Honestly if you are looking for a place to live then Sandton is bad for traveling to Bara.... the best is to live as close to the CBD as possible or live on the west rand (14th Ave) and take the N1
Click to expand...

Thanks for the advice. You said south-bound peak times are 3-7, but the route will be north-bound in the evening, and south bound in the morning? Is it crazy both directions?
 
You might be lucky going against the traffic flow at that time of the morning, as there aren't many people who live in Sandton and work in the South of Johannesburg, but you'd have to test it out, sometimes going the back roads is better then going the highways.
 
Forget the directions - traffic doesn't flow in a particular direction. Traffic flows into the CBD in the mornings and out of the CBD in the afternoons.

I think two hours is a bit much - you're looking at 45-90 minutes depending on the time you leave and whether there have been any incidents that add to the traffic.
 
Odd I've normally found traffic doesn't flow that much towards the South during the mornings, quite the opposite it normally flows from the South to the North, and vice versa in the evenings. Yes there are people who do go to work in the CBD but faaar less then up to Randburg, Sandton Midrand etc...
 
Lupus said:
Odd I've normally found traffic doesn't flow that much towards the South during the mornings, quite the opposite it normally flows from the South to the North, and vice versa in the evenings. Yes there are people who do go to work in the CBD but faaar less then up to Randburg, Sandton Midrand etc...
Click to expand...

The build up is usually closer to Sandton heading southbound in the mornings, and northbound in the afternoons. Particularly around Grayston.
 
Oh yeah okay forgot about that build up there, I come off from Beyers or 14th nowadays.
 
J25 said:
Thanks for the advice. You said south-bound peak times are 3-7, but the route will be north-bound in the evening, and south bound in the morning? Is it crazy both directions?
Click to expand...

In the morning the South bound is bad between Sandton and the CBD, once you get past the CBD it clear. On the way back its a bit slow leading up the to the CBD and then again at Sandton. It will be a bit of traffic but not as much as the opposite direction. I'd say that you should allow for a little over an hour depending on the time, if you leave after 7:30 perhaps a bit more.
 
Thanks for all the advice.

Considering staying in Morningside. To arrive at 8am at Baragwanath, what time would I need to leave from Morningside? Do most people start work at 9? Is it quieter if you leave at 7?

Morningside is approximately 30km away, where as Killarney is only 15km, would those extra 15km make a huge difference (either along the M1, or along Jan Smuts)? Or would that stretch (morninside to killarny) be relatively traffic free.

From what people have said in this thread so far, it seems like it's only the stretch of the M1 along the CBD that is actually bad.

Thanks again, this information is very useful.
 
J25 said:
I need some advice with regards to traffic in Johannesburg.

How long do you estimate it will take to commute from Sandton (areas along the M1, sandown, morningside, etc) down to Baragwanath in peak traffic, as well as off-peak times. On Google maps it's about 20-30kms, depending where in Sandton you are. I have asked a number of people in Johannesburg how long this will take, but it seems everyone is just speculating wildy, as some say it's way too far, and other's say it is reasonable.

Does anyone have experience with this actual route that can give an indication of how long it will take?

I would guess that traffic going out of Sandton to Soweto would be against the main flow?
Click to expand...

Most days 45 mins each way if you are against the traffic, but there times where you can sit on that highway for 3 hours... i have done it, its terrible.
 
Consider staying in JHB South... (Glenanda, Glenvista, Bassonia, Meyersdal, Mulbarton)
That way you can drive through the suburbs to get to work :)
 
You traveling against the major traffic flow, so you wont have it too bad. I would say 60 mins max.
 
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