Smit Street under M1 Bridge reopened to traffic

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The Johannesburg Roads Agency has reopened Smit Street, which connects to the Brixton and Braamfontein areas under the M1 Bridge in Johannesburg to traffic.

This follows the completion of short-term repairs on some sections that were affected by the tunnel fire that occurred last month.

The blaze, estimated to be six times the normal heat, ripped through a tunnel containing City Power infrastructure. It caused damage to the bridge and burned approximately 500 metres of underground cables.

The far-left lane remains closed off as a safety precaution until further notice. The street was temporarily closed by the Johannesburg Roads Agency as a safety measure.

Motorists were given alternative routes to use.

“Smit street is now open for vehicles to use, while the far-left lane remains closed off as a safety measure until further notice. JRA thanks motorists for their patience since early May 2024 when a tunnel fire affected Smit Street and repairs have been ongoing since then,” says Virgil James, City of Johannesburg.

Video: M1 Bridge Fire – CoJ working hard to restore electricity: