Tar goes high-tech overseas, SA’s potholes persist

May 20, 2025

South Africa’s trucking lifeline is under threat from crumbling roads, but around the world, smart highways are reshaping transport.

Motorways and highways are much more than just transport arteries. They are symbols of freedom, regional connectivity, and economic vitality. They also act as indicators of the health of local economies and infrastructure investment, reflecting the attractiveness of entire regions. For the South African trucking industry, the condition and reach of the road network directly impacts operational efficiency, costs, and safety.

Road infrastructure on a global scale

When it comes to building expansive motorway networks, China leads the way. Since the political opening of the country in the early 1970s, China has connected its provinces with an extensive highway system that today stretches over 160,000km, with approximately 8,000km being added annually. In contrast, Germany’s motorway network has expanded by only 2,000km since 1995.

China’s investment is not just about speed, but also innovation. The country is developing “electric roads” – sections of motorway fitted with wireless charging systems for electric vehicles. These innovations are poised to change freight transport by eliminating the need for overhead powerlines and large onboard batteries.

“China has invested a huge amount of money in developing its transport system and, as a rapidly growing industrialised nation, is making faster progress than other countries,” says Kevin Riehl of ETH Zurich, who conducts research at the Institute for Transport Planning and Systems.

“Alongside the US, China has played a key role in driving the technological development of intelligent transport systems and mobility services,” he continues. Chinese technology giants such as Baidu, Alibaba, and Tencent are leading innovations in digital transport services, developing navigation applications that equip vehicles to become connected and intelligent.

Every vehicle becomes a sensor

At about 79,000km, the US Interstate Highway System is the second largest in the world. Spain, Germany, and France follow with 17,600, 13,200, and 11,000km respectively. In these countries, modern traffic management systems are critical to reducing congestion and improving freight efficiency.

“One thing we know today is that more roads lead to more congestion and are therefore not the answer. What we need are intelligent traffic systems in which every vehicle becomes a sensor. Vehicles will exchange information with each other and so can react better to accidents, jams, or heavy traffic,” says Riehl.

Modern motorways are evolving beyond simple roadways; integrated technologies such as embedded sensors in barriers and road surfaces help to monitor conditions in real time. Photovoltaic surfaces are being trialled to generate energy for lighting and electric vehicles. Wireless charging embedded in the road allows vehicles to recharge while in motion, while dynamic road markings adapt to traffic conditions. Road surface heating systems to prevent ice build-up have also been introduced, although at considerable cost.

Intelligent motorways for heavy goods transport

In Germany, technologies such as inductive charging are being tested at facilities like the duraBASt testing site. “Intelligent motorways will not only improve safety, but also increase traffic efficiency and reduce environmental pollution. Digitalisation plays a central role, for example through real-time data analysis and intelligent traffic management systems,” explains Professor Gerd Riegelhuth, head of traffic management, operations, and transport at Germany’s Autobahn GmbH.

Riegelhuth also notes that, alongside these innovations, Germany must address the critical need to renew crumbling bridges and motorway sections – an issue familiar to many South African trucking operators who face daily challenges from deteriorating roads.

With over 13,000 motorway overpasses in Germany alone, the scale of the maintenance task is enormous. Similarly, South Africa’s extensive yet ageing national and provincial road networks urgently require significant investment to remain safe and operational, particularly given the high loads carried by heavy trucks. Many rural and secondary routes have already fallen into a dire state, posing serious risks to freight transport and leading to increased maintenance costs for fleets.

Noise reduction and singing roads

On Germany’s A12 motorway between Frankfurt an der Oder and Berlin, drivers experience the benefits of “whispering concrete” – a material designed to reduce traffic noise. Meanwhile, so-called “singing roads”, where vibrations create musical tones within vehicle cabins, are being trialled to keep drivers alert on monotonous stretches.

Such innovations may seem far from South Africa’s current challenges, yet they highlight the potential of material science to transform road transport. Advances in ready-mix concrete technology, the use of recycled materials, high-performance tar compounds, and even self-healing concrete offer hope for longer-lasting, more resilient road surfaces.

Given the poor state of many South African roads, especially those outside major urban centres, investing in durable materials and smart design is no longer a luxury, but an operational necessity.

Lessons for South Africa

Globally, public-private partnerships are increasingly used to fund motorway construction and maintenance. Tolling is common in Europe, helping to cover maintenance costs and new projects. In the United States, highway maintenance is funded by fuel taxes, whereas in South Africa, tolling systems such as e-tolling on Gauteng’s highways have met with considerable resistance and mixed results.

Modern technologies and materials may offer cost savings over the long term, but they require substantial upfront investment. For South Africa’s trucking industry, better-maintained, digitally connected, and sustainable roads could significantly reduce the economic burden caused by vehicle damage, delivery delays, and safety risks linked to the current road conditions.

While countries like India build an average of 37km of motorway per day, and Southeast Asian nations like Vietnam expand aggressively, South Africa must address not only network expansion, but also the urgent rehabilitation of its existing infrastructure.

Clearly, for the transport sector, South Africa isn’t quite reaching the end of the road (one hopes). What matters now, however, is how the country builds and maintains its future roadways.