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South Africa freeways

Started by Chris, January 27, 2010, 08:24:53 AM

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Brandon

Quote from: Interstatefan78 on June 01, 2013, 12:04:12 AM
I would say Bela-Bela is my shot at the two lane N1, and also seen in some pictures that South Africa uses a 120 kmh in a urban freeway around JO burg and Cape Town, but here in the USA they are at 40-65 mph or in Texas 70mph (60-110 kmh)http://mw2.google.com/mw-panoramio/photos/medium/50216409.jpg http://www.whyjoburg.com/image-files/e-toll-sign.jpg

Urban freeways are also posted at 70 mph in Michigan.
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kphoger

Quote from: Interstatefan78 on June 01, 2013, 12:04:12 AM
Quote from: kphoger on May 28, 2013, 06:14:01 PM
Quote from: Interstatefan78 on May 28, 2013, 03:37:45 PM
N1 150kms (93 mi) outside of Jo burg looks like the same as US 101 north of SLO with a 65-70 mph (105-110 kmh) limit, but that stretch of N1 150 kilometers outside of Johannesburg does have a speed limit of 110-120 kmh,

That either puts you near Bela-Bela (Limpopo) or Koppies (Free State).  Shall we assume you mean near Bela-Bela, north of Johannesburg?

I would say Bela-Bela is my shot at the two lane N1

If you're not sure which stretch of road you're talking about, then how do you know it's 150 km from Johannesburg?

Quote from: Interstatefan78 on June 01, 2013, 12:04:12 AM
and also seen in some pictures that South Africa uses a 120 kmh in a urban freeway around JO burg and Cape Town
http://mw2.google.com/mw-panoramio/photos/medium/50216409.jpg
http://www.whyjoburg.com/image-files/e-toll-sign.jpg

I'm not really getting an "urban freeway" vibe from either one of those two pictures.  I've certainly seem some 75 mph stretches in the US that looked basically like that, especially with the recent higher limits in Texas between Dallas and San Antonio.
Keep right except to pass.  Yes.  You.
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Male pronouns, please.

Quote from: Philip K. DickIf you can control the meaning of words, you can control the people who must use them.

Avalanchez71

Quote from: webfil on February 18, 2013, 03:29:56 PM
The notion of developped country is quite relative, as it varies depending on the indicator you are relying to.

According to the CIA, the Gini Index places South Africa in second-to-last place in terms of development, but GDP per capita with power of purchase parity places ZA in the middle of the queue, near Brazil and China. GDP measures wealth created, Gini measures distribution of that wealth.

EDIT : Demographically speaking, the country is still considered a developing country, as it has not underwent the two phases of the demographic transition process, i.e. fall of the death rate/high birth rate -> significant population boom -> fall of the birth rate/low death rate -> fall of the population growth rate.

The death rate is still very high, but the birth rate is comparable to countries nearing post-transitionnal phases (such as Mexico, Turkey and Israel), that is why ZA is said to be still in transitionnal process, although things here are reversed. According to UN population estimations from the Development Programme, the population is expected to stagnate and/or decline around 2030-40, once epidemics and boomer's children will start dying. But then again, death rates will be higher than most "Occidental liberal democracies".
In other words a second world country.

NE2

pre-1945 Florida route log

I accept and respect your identity as long as it's not dumb shit like "identifying as a vaccinated attack helicopter".

3467

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Developing_country
IMF considers everyone but the western bloc as developing . I had one friend who went to India and Tanzania . He felt the very top in India was certainly better off than Tanzania where there is no top but the Tanzanians led a better life than the vast majority of Indians simply because of the miseries of overpopulation. The stats show India much better off similar to Bill Gates walks into a bar and the average wealth surges

The latest UN population estimates shows almost no population growth ex Africa which goes from 1 billion to 4 billion though a recent satellite analysis of Nigeria said this country does not  have 160 million. It probably does not even have 100 million people........

kphoger

Keep right except to pass.  Yes.  You.
Visit scenic Orleans County, NY!
Male pronouns, please.

Quote from: Philip K. DickIf you can control the meaning of words, you can control the people who must use them.

Stephane Dumas

I dust-off this thread about the E-toll system in South African freeways http://www.iol.co.za/motoring/industry-news/e-toll-discount-for-afrikaans-drivers-1.1624414 
http://tollroadsnews.com/news/south-africa-anc-government-says-gauteng-e-toll-will-start-december-3

I also saw this trailer of a romance film titled "Pad na jou Hart" where lots of scenes are on remote South African roads. I don't know if it might be categorized as a road movie as well http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n-mAClpgqjE

US 41

What I found most interesting is that there is a yellow line separating the left lane from the left shoulder instead of a white line. You'd think the yellow line would be separating the right lane from the median.
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lordsutch

Quote from: US 41 on March 06, 2014, 06:12:17 PM
What I found most interesting is that there is a yellow line separating the left lane from the left shoulder instead of a white line. You'd think the yellow line would be separating the right lane from the median.

Ireland does the same thing. See e.g. http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/e/ec/M20junction2.JPG/800px-M20junction2.JPG (solid on motorways, dashed on non-motorway dual carriageways).

Desert Man

#34
Here's a world map of developed countries and those in the developing (high, medium and very low HDI) stage.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:2013_UN_Human_Development_Report_Quartiles.svg

Lots of surprises: Libya (esp. in 2011 before Gaddafi's ouster) and Algeria are "high" compared to South Africa's "medium" stage. Mexico and most of Latin America is higher HDI than China and most of east Asia (Japan and South Korea are "very high" of course). And two South American nations Chile and Argentina are "very high" along with Australia and New Zealand.

The "high" HDI countries (esp. in the Middle east and Eastern Europe) should be quite developed and industrialized, but in cases like Mexico and Israel (the West Bank and Gaza Strip) there are large visible underclasses. Romania and Bulgaria joined the EU in 2007 and Croatia last year, they find themselves in the poorest rank of the EU-28. However, Greece has serious economic problems that some economists want to take down Greece's position as a "developed" country.
Get your kicks...on Route 99! Like to turn 66 upside down. The other historic Main street of America.

vdeane

It's worth noting that HDI is based more on infrastructure and social systems than whether a country is an economic powerhouse.

The original breakdown actually had nothing to do with economics:
-First world: US/Canada, NATO, and a few other allied countries
-Second World: USSR, Warsaw Pact, Soviet allies
-Third World: Everyone else

After the Cold War, we just dumped the second world countries into the third world category.
Please note: All comments here represent my own personal opinion and do not reflect the official position of NYSDOT or its affiliates.

J N Winkler

After 1991, the former Second World became just "former Soviet bloc," since it didn't fall neatly into the First World/Third World categorization because of Communist economies' abnormal focus on industrialized primary production.

My personal criterion for distinguishing between highly developed countries and the rest is trustworthiness of tap water.  By that standard all of the Warsaw Pact countries in Europe (including Russia itself and European CIS countries) are highly developed.  I am less sure about CIS countries in Asia.  For that matter, South Africa counts as highly developed since it has potable tap water, while Mexico does not, although Mexico's per capita GDP (PPP) is about 50% higher than South Africa's.

I am not sure which country without safe tap water has the highest per capita GDP (PPP), but if I had to guess, it would be Equatorial Guinea.  That country is actually the poster child for the unreliability of per capita GDP (PPP) as a measure of human development, since it has a very high income Gini coefficient, infant mortality is through the roof, and less than half of the population has access to clean drinking water (whether through tap or not).  Equatorial Guinea has a per capita GDP (PPP) of about $27,000, behind the US at $52,000 but well ahead of Mexico ($15,000) and South Africa ($11,000).  If the question is narrowed further--which industrialized democracy with unsafe tap water has the highest per capita GDP (PPP)?--then Mexico and Turkey emerge as the leading candidates.  They may be emerging members of the safe tap water club, though--DF has been running ad campaigns to convince residents that the tap water is safe to drink, while in Turkey it depends on which city you are in (Istanbul has good tap water, Ankara does not).
"It is necessary to spend a hundred lire now to save a thousand lire later."--Piero Puricelli, explaining the need for a first-class road system to Benito Mussolini

english si

South Africa was among the most developed countries for whites and still-rich-for-Africa for non-whites under apartheid, but the de facto ANC single party state has basically caused a stagnation, even a regression. The country is more equal, but people are only as-rich, or poorer as they were 25/30 years ago. Given that almost everywhere else as grown economically in that time period, the country is relatively poorer. It was a country that was considered a NIC (newly industrialised country) in the 80s, and now is an LEDC.

JNW - 'safe tap water' is a bit of an interestingly complex issue. Certainly every Far Eastern international student I used to know used to ask for boiled water, as - for them - our tap water wasn't safe due to different bacteria in the tap water back home.

webfil

Quote from: english si on April 02, 2014, 07:21:44 AM
South Africa was among the most developed countries for whites and still-rich-for-Africa for non-whites under apartheid, but the de facto ANC single party state has basically caused a stagnation, even a regression. The country is more equal, but people are only as-rich, or poorer as they were 25/30 years ago. Given that almost everywhere else as grown economically in that time period, the country is relatively poorer. It was a country that was considered a NIC (newly industrialised country) in the 80s, and now is an LEDC.
Can you provide some evidence for what you are saying?

US 41

Iran is now a third world country.
Visited States and Provinces:
USA (48)= All of Lower 48
Canada (5)= NB, NS, ON, PEI, QC
Mexico (9)= BCN, BCS, CHIH, COAH, DGO, NL, SON, SIN, TAM

Stephane Dumas

Quote from: webfil on April 03, 2014, 11:43:35 PM

Can you provide some evidence for what you are saying?

There that video in French from Radio-Canada about the winners and the losers after the end of apartheid.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=03KNvIAZ9pY
also that French article from March 2013
http://www.monde-diplomatique.fr/2013/03/CESSOU/48842

The current president of South Africa, Jacob Zuma built a big building for his own need.
http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2014/03/31/south-africa-corruption-allegations/7118049/
http://www.news24.com/Elections/News/DAs-open-letter-to-SA-voters-20140408
http://www.bdlive.co.za/opinion/columnists/2014/04/07/apartheid-depravities-are-no-excuse-for-current-corruption

Nelson Mandela is spinning in his grave... :(

jakeroot

I was not aware that South Africa had any FHWA-series road signs:



I was always under the impression that DIN 1451 was the only font used.

english si

#42
Quote from: webfil on April 03, 2014, 11:43:35 PMCan you provide some evidence for what you are saying?
http://www.economist.com/news/leaders/21564846-south-africa-sliding-downhill-while-much-rest-continent-clawing-its-way-up for instance. It's a well known truth, but as it's not politically correct, it tends to not be said.

I'm wrong - economic inequality has increased while the country since the ANC came to power.
I was wrong again - they are still an NIC, though their peers (became NICs about the same time) on that front have graduated (and South Africa has the 2nd lowest HDI of the NICs - beating India and drawing with Indonesia).

Unemployment has skyrocketed since 1994, when a brain drain started (declining quality of life being the number one reason for emigration) - unemployment was nearly 10% higher in 2000 than 1990, despite being under sanctions in 1990 and the global economy being much better in 2000. While South Africa is no Zimbabwe, and the ANC not Zanu-PF, it's still not a rosy picture.

agentsteel53

Quote from: jake on June 04, 2014, 04:37:16 PM
I was not aware that South Africa had any FHWA-series road signs:

now I want to know if they ever used button copy.
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jakeroot

Quote from: english si on June 04, 2014, 05:36:40 PM
Quote from: webfil on April 03, 2014, 11:43:35 PMCan you provide some evidence for what you are saying?
http://www.economist.com/news/leaders/21564846-south-africa-sliding-downhill-while-much-rest-continent-clawing-its-way-up for instance. It's a well known truth, but as it's not politically correct, it tends to not be said.

I'm wrong - economic inequality has increased while the country since the ANC came to power.
I was wrong again - they are still an NIC, though their peers (became NICs about the same time) on that front have graduated (and South Africa has the 2nd lowest HDI of the NICs - beating India and drawing with Indonesia).

Unemployment has skyrocketed since 1994, when a brain drain started (declining quality of life being the number one reason for emigration) - unemployment was nearly 10% higher in 2000 than 1990, despite being under sanctions in 1990 and the global economy being much better in 2000. While South Africa is no Zimbabwe, and the ANC not Zanu-PF, it's still not a rosy picture.

I know very little about South Africa, but the picture as painted by "The God's Must be Crazy" certainly make South Africa look pretty nice. Obviously with Apartheid it's not so great, but I'm really sad to hear things have somewhat gone to shit since then.




Quote from: agentsteel53 on June 04, 2014, 05:48:07 PM
Quote from: jake on June 04, 2014, 04:37:16 PM
I was not aware that South Africa had any FHWA-series road signs:

now I want to know if they ever used button copy.

I would say "no" because only the US used button copy, but I'm guessing that's not true?

agentsteel53

Quote from: jake on June 04, 2014, 05:51:51 PM
I would say "no" because only the US used button copy, but I'm guessing that's not true?

Canada has used it.  I've seen it in Mexico as well, but no sign stands out as being a definitive highway department job - it seems to be an assorted lot of locals who all independently have found just enough button elements.
live from sunny San Diego.

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Alps


Accidentally stumbled on this document while looking for information on the new exit numbers around Messina (wow, two countries in one post!):


South African Numbered Route Description and Destination Analysis

jakeroot

Really dusting off this thread!

SANRAL (the South African roads agency) posted a video to their YouTube page a few months ago showing some pretty cool animations of before/after work of several construction projects across the country. The video is mostly an advert, as SANRAL's approval rating seems to have dropped off pretty dramatically following the E-toll debacle:

The video shows several clips of the N7 upgrade, the Mount Edgecombe interchange, the Msikaba Bridge, the William Nicol SPUI, and the Polokwane ring road:

https://youtu.be/xx_Gop0EajI

X99

Quote from: Truvelo on January 27, 2010, 08:26:59 AM
What I like is the section in the middle of Cape Town with the unfinished flyovers :cool:
And the section it was supposed to connect to that's now the top floor of a parking garage.
why are there only like 5 people on this forum from south dakota

Takumi

Quote from: jakeroot on June 04, 2014, 04:37:16 PM
I was not aware that South Africa had any FHWA-series road signs:
I was always under the impression that DIN 1451 was the only font used.

Major bump, but I'm in South Africa at the moment and there are still a few scattered signs with FHWA series in very rural areas.
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