Progress on the new K60 road and the Simlak Drive extension is bringing two long-planned routes closer to reality, with better access and stronger links across the wider Waterfall City area.
Waterfall City’s growth has been supported by sustained investment in access and mobility. More than R1 billion has been spent on the ancillary road network to improve access and prepare for future traffic growth, and the next phase is now visible on both sides of the N1 highway. The new K60 road and the Simlak Drive extension serve different parts of the network, but their value lies in how they work together. The K60 will create a new east-west route across the N1, while Simlak Drive will provide a north-south connection between the K60, communities south of the Jukskei River, and the Waterfall City CBD.
“Road infrastructure has helped bring Waterfall City to where it is today,” says Lourens du Toit, Head of Sustainability, Infrastructure, and Land at Attacq. “The K60 and Simlak Drive extension will connect parts of the city that the N1 and the Jukskei River have historically separated. Together, upon completion, they will open Waterfall City to its surrounding communities.”
K60 beginning to take shape
The K60 is being built between Maxwell Drive and Allandale Road. The 4-lane carriageway will pass St Peter’s school and Megawatt Park before crossing Woodmead Drive, Simlak Drive, the N1, Old Pretoria Road, and the Jukskei River. It will continue north of the Munyaka residential estate and connect with the existing route leading towards Allandale Road.
The project includes new bridges over the N1 and Jukskei River, with walkways on both sides of the road and provision for bus stops. Once complete, it will give motorists another route across the precinct and help relieve traffic pressure on Allandale Drive, which is currently under strain during peak hours.
“The major benefit is the new east-west link from Sunninghill through Waterfall City towards Allandale Road,” says Nicolaas Gouws, Site Engineer for Down Touch Investments. “The planned intersections will also improve access for surrounding communities and residential estates along the route.”
Construction commenced in January 2026. After a difficult start caused by a high-water table, the project got back on track and had moved beyond 20% completion by 28 July.
According to Willie Retief, Contracts Manager for Down Touch Investments, substantial earthworks have already changed the landscape along the route. “We have excavated more than 40,000m³ of material near the St Peter’s School section to reach the correct road level. The embankments approaching the N1 are also close to level, and we are using the dry season to progress work around the Jukskei River crossing.”
The project has created approximately 200 new jobs and is scheduled for completion in the first quarter of 2028.
Work on the N1 bridge will introduce a new phase of traffic accommodation. During Q3 2026, some N1 lanes will be narrowed while work begins on the highway embankments for the new bridge. The N1 will remain open, with the project team working with the relevant roads authorities (SANRAL) to manage the project.
Simlak Drive brings the CBD closer
Construction on the Simlak Drive extension began in September 2025, with work gathering pace during October and November. The project, implemented by Attacq – a strategic development partner of Waterfall City – is upgrading the existing section from one lane in each direction to a dual carriageway. This project is well underway and nearing completion. The extension also includes a new road from the Waterfall City CBD down to the Jukskei River at Gate 7 and a bridge across the Jukskei River. A major milestone of the project to date includes the work undertaken on the construction of the bridge on the south and north side of the river, which is progressing well. The bridge is approximately halfway complete.
For residents of Waterfall Country Estate South, the effect of this extension will be immediate and easy to understand. A journey to Mall of Africa that currently takes about 15 minutes is expected to take roughly two minutes once the connection is open.
The road will create a fourth access point into the Waterfall City CBD. Public transport lay-bys are being included for future pick-up and drop-off points. The pedestrian infrastructure will include a dedicated sidewalk for pedestrians on one side, as well as a pedestrian and cycle lane on the other. Landscaping and fencing will follow Waterfall City’s established design approach.
Construction is expected to be complete by the end of 2026, with final finishes continuing into the first quarter of 2027. The opening date of this extended road will depend on conditions around the adjoining K60 works. Road-user safety will determine how and when access is introduced while construction continues nearby.
Patience while the work continues
Construction of this scale brings noise, dust, temporary traffic disruptions, and slower movement through active work areas. On Simlak Drive, the new carriageway was built while the existing route remained in use, helping to preserve access for residents. Traffic accommodation is in place, while health and safety controls are independently audited.
Gauteng MEC for Roads and Transport, Kedibone Diale-Tlabela, has highlighted a number of benefits to residents accruing from the road project. “Our investments in road infrastructure are primarily aimed at providing tangible benefits that include improved road-user mobility, increased roadway capacity, reduced travel times, an enhanced driving experience as well as easy access to business, residential and agricultural estates.”
“We believe this road project will also serve as a key stimulator of economic activity in the area, helping to improve connectivity and road safety, create job opportunities as well as promote social development,” added the MEC.
Meanwhile, the K60 project team is appealing to motorists to approach the area with caution, to strictly adhere to temporary signs and reduce speed limits through the construction zone. These are essential to protect everyone working in and travelling through the area.
“While we know the work is uncomfortable, we are appealing for understanding and patience at this time,” says Leon Saunders, client representative and chief engineer at the Gauteng Department of Roads and Transport.
Although some disruption is unavoidable during construction, the completed roads will leave Waterfall City with a more connected network that supports easier movement and alleviates traffic congestion, as this important Gauteng economic hub continues to grow.
Those who would like to follow the progress of this project can visit the Department’s social media pages. Photographs and videos are shared at: Gauteng Roads and Transport Department on Facebook and GP Roads and Transport on X.
