TRAFFIC ENGINEERING SERVICES TRAFFIC IMPACT STATEMENT NATREF CLEAN FUELS II, SASOLBURG, FREE STATE. October 2013 Revised: 2.0

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1 TRAFFIC ENGINEERING SERVICES TRAFFIC IMPACT STATEMENT NATREF CLEAN FUELS II, SASOLBURG, FREE STATE October 2013 Revised: 2.0

2 Quality Management Issue/revision Issue 1 Issue 2 Remarks Draft Final Date 30 September October 2013 Prepared by Christo Bredenhann Christo Bredenhann Signature Checked by Tobie Ueckermann (Pr. Eng) Tobie Ueckermann (Pr. Eng) Signature Authorised by Tobie Ueckermann (Pr. Eng) Tobie Ueckermann (Pr. Eng) Signature Project number R R Report number R/v R/v2.0.Final File reference Z:\ \ NATREF CFII\11 - Reports Z:\ \ NATREF CFII\11 - Reports Project number: R Dated: 2013/09/ Revised: 2013/10/17

3 TRAFFIC IMPACT ASSESSMENT NATREF CLEAN FUELS II, SASOLBURG, FREE STATE 2013/10/17 Client NEMAI Consulting Offices 4 and 5 23 Jan Hofmeyer Road Westville 3630 South Africa Tel: 27 (0) Consultant WSP Group Africa (Pty) Ltd 3rd Floor 35 Wale Street Cape Town 8001 Tel: 27 (0) Fax: 27 (0) Registered Address WSP Group Africa (Pty) Ltd 1999/008928/07 WSP House, Bryanston Place, 199 Bryanston Drive, Bryanston, 2191, South Africa WSP Contacts Tobie Ueckermann tobie.ueckermann@wspgroup.co.za Christo Bredenhann christo.bredenhann@wspgroup.co.za 3 20

4 CONTENTS 1 Introduction Purpose Locality Scope 6 2 Proposed Development Existing Zoning Proposed Development Development Scenarios Existing Road Network 8 3 Traffic Data Traffic observations and operation 10 4 Trip Generation, Distribution and Assignment Trip Generation Trip Distribution Trip Assignment 13 5 Intersection Operational Assessment Jan Haak Avenue / Carl Bosch Road intersection Jan Haak Avenue / Paardeberg Street intersection Carl Bosch Road / Pichler Road intersection Summary of the Traffic Impact during the Construction Period 14 6 Access Management and Control Primary Access - Jan Haak Avenue Dispatch access - Carl Bosch Road Secondary access - Carl Bosch Road 15 7 Accommodation of Public Transport and Pedestrians Public Transport Pedestrians 16 8 Parking Assessment Parking requirements and provision 17 9 Preliminary Conclusions and Recommendations Conclusions Recommendations References 19 Project number: R Dated: 2013/09/ Revised: 2013/10/17

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6 1 Introduction 1.1 Purpose WSP Group Africa (Pty) Ltd was appointed by NEMAI Consulting conduct a Traffic Impact Assessment (TIA) of the proposed NATREF Cleaner Fuels Phase 2 (CF2) project. The refinery is jointly owned by Sasol Oil (Pty) and Total South Africa, and processes crude oil which is transported to Sasolburg by means of a pipeline from the Port of Durban. The refinery supplies products to the largest market in Southern Africa in the Gauteng industrial area, and is also exported by road to neighbouring countries. The purpose of this TIA is a part-requirement of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), and has been prepared to the relevant standards, namely: Department of Transport, 1995a, Manual for Traffic Impact Studies, RR 93/635; 1.2 Locality The NATREF refinery is located in Sasolburg (Metsimaholo Local Municipality), in the Fezile Dabi District Municipality of the Free State province. It is located at S and E. Refer to Figure 1: Locality Plan. The study area is bounded by: Jan Haak Avenue (north); Eugene Houndry Street (east); Vacant land (south); Carl Bosch Road (west). 1.3 Scope The TIA covers the following aspects: Zoning, development details, analysis scenarios and an analysis of the existing road network; Traffic surveys and data; Trip generation, distribution and assignment; Assessment of operational conditions at critical intersections, where applicable; Assessment of access to the refinery, including capacity analysis, where applicable; Comments on the accommodation of public transport and non-motorised transport (NMT); Parking provision; Conclusions and recommendations. Project number: R Dated: 2013/09/ Revised: 2013/10/17

7 NATREF Image: Google Maps Figure 1: NATREF Locality plan 7 20

8 2 Proposed Development 2.1 Existing Zoning The current zoning of the property erven is Noxious Industry; and will remain unchanged. 2.2 Proposed Development The primary purpose of the NATREF CF2 project is to undertake the required modifications to the refinery in order to meet pending fuel specifications published by the South African Department of Energy (DoE). The operational characteristics of the refinery will essentially remain unchanged, and a negligible change in trip generation is expected after the construction period, which is estimated to be approximately 5 years from the last quarter of 2014 to end It should be noted that the 4 options contained in the Scoping Report; the location of the 4 new plants, will have no impact on the construction period or subsequent operational traffic characteristics, and was therefore not analysed individually. 2.3 Development Scenarios Based on the type of project and the EIA related purpose of this investigation, the focus of the study is the interim construction phase only, as it is expected to result in an increased trip generation; and associated traffic impact. A Horizon year analysis was not undertaken, as the traffic impact and trip characteristics to and from the refinery will essentially revert to the current (2013) pre-construction conditions. The additional number of staff at the refinery during the operational phase of CF2 will be approximately 50 to 60 persons, or 25 to 30 persons per shift. 2.4 Existing Road Network Jan Haak Avenue Jan Haak Avenue provides the primary access to the refinery, and is also the primary link to the western residential suburbs of Sasolburg. Jan Haak can be accessed via Carl Bosch Road or Paardeberg Street, or directly from the R57. Paardeberg Street provides direct access to the residential suburbs of Vaal Park and the R59. The R57 and R59 provide access to National Road N1. The section of Jan Haak adjacent to the site is a single carriage way with 2 lanes per direction, and the section between the R57 and Paardeberg Street is a dual carriage way divided, with 2 lanes per direction. Jan Haak Avenue starts west of the R57 at the intersection with Eric Louw, J G Strijdom and Hertzog Streets, follows a roughly east-west route adjacent and north of the refinery, and terminates to the east of the site after an un-surfaced section of road. Eugene Houndry Street Eugene Houndry Street forms the eastern border of the site; it is a local access road only, which ends in a dead-end. It does not provide access to the site; during the Construction phase this road will however require an additional gate to provide access for the modular loads. Project number: R Dated: 2013/09/ Revised: 2013/10/17

9 Carl Bosch Road Carl Bosch Road is a local arterial route, and provides access between Jan Haak and the western residential suburbs (via Klasie Havenga) en the south-eastern suburbs (via Bergius Road). The Carl Bosch/Pichler Road intersection was recently upgraded to a conventional 2-lane roundabout, with improved approaches, circulation, road signs and markings; which has improved overall capacity and safety. Carl Bosch provides access to tracks for loading and offloading. During the project phase Carl Bosch will be utilised as a Contractors vehicle entrance Henry Street Henry Street is a local access road located to the east of the site, and parallel to Eugene Houndry Street. It is a dead-end street that only provides access to the local properties adjacent to it, some of which are vacant. 9 20

10 3 Traffic Data 3.1 Traffic observations and operation The construction phase of the CF2 project is expected to have a moderate trip generation and a negligible change in trip generation after completion of the project. Refer to Section 4. Due to the temporary traffic impact on the surrounding road network and intersections, no formal traffic counts were undertaken. However, limited weekday AM and PM site visits were conducted on 3 September 2013, and operational trip information was provided by NATREF. Access Main Gate Jan Haak Avenue Vehicles: service providers and deliveries and trucks Pedestrian turn-styles: permanent employees, service providers and visitors Dispatch entrance - Carl Bosch Road Vehicles only tanker trucks enter at the gantry area to load products Pedestrians - employees working in Dispatch area only (no other persons allowed) Normal operating periods Total permanent employees 595 persons (excluding Natcos staff); Normal operation is 2 shifts of 12 hours each per day; Project number: R Dated: 2013/09/ Revised: 2013/10/17

11 4 Trip Generation, Distribution and Assignment 4.1 Trip Generation The trip generation for the construction phase has been estimated from information provided by NATREF for the CF2 project. Construction staff The estimated contractor staff numbers for the duration of the CF2 project is, (shift work is not planned): 450 to 500 staff (2014); 1250 to 1500 staff (2015); 2000 to 2300 staff (early 2016 to July 2018). These figures do not include Unit shut down traffic due to the additional 1000 to 1500 staff (approximately). Construction staff transport The main contractor is responsible for transporting approximately 50% of the contractor staff to and from the refinery: The contracting company will provide buses (70-80 seaters); A maximum total of 40 to 50 buses and taxis is expected during the AM/PM periods during the peak construction period from early 2016 to end 2018; Buses will follow normal public routes and drop staff at the main access off Jan Haak Avenue. In the evenings, the process is reversed to pick-up staff; Buses will not park or hold on-site during the day. Some taxi transport of contractor staff will occur, but this will be negligible. The balance of construction staff will access the site in private vehicles, approximately 450 to 550 vehicles. Heavy vehicles Cranes, plant, construction material and spoil and all other equipment that will be transported to and from the refinery during the construction phase; will only marginally increase peak traffic volumes, as it will either be delivered to site and then stay on-site for long periods, or delivery and removal of construction materials will be arranged outside peak weekday hours as far as possible. An estimated 30 to 50 heavy vehicle movements will occur per day. Ultra-heavy vehicles The new process units will be transported to site by modular transport, via Jan Haak Avenue to Henry Street. An estimated 20 modules will be assembled and transported back to the NATREF site to place of erection, crossing Henry Street and Eugene Houndry Street via a temporary gate situated on Eugene Houndry Street; Pipe-rack modules will be transported to site via Jan Haak Avenue to Henry Street, or into the site directly, where an estimated 33 modules will be assembled and transported into the NATREF site to place of erection; An estimated 52 modular transport units of 30 to 650 tons will occur over the 3 year construction period. These trips will be arranged outside the normal weekday AM/PM peak periods, and will be subject to specialised route planning and approvals from the relevant authorities, which is the responsibility of NATREF and the contractor

12 Unit shut-down periods During the NCF2 project, normal unit shut-downs will occur during which time maintenance and other work is undertaken. The expected unit shut-down periods are planned for April 2014, August 2014, May 2016, Oct 2016, May 2017 and April During these periods, an estimated additional 1250 to 1500 staff, or 450 to 500 vehicles will access the refinery. These personnel will primarily access NATREF via the Main gate, and use private transport. Table 4.1 summarises the estimated maximum number of additional trips generated during the construction period, calculated from the trip generation assumptions. All buses and taxis will drop-off the construction staff in the AM peak, and leave the premises for the duration of the day. Therefore the trip generation per peak was doubled to accommodate all the vehicles entering and leaving the premises during each AM and PM peak. The additional traffic from the unit shut down periods has not been included, as these shut-downs and associated additional traffic is a regular semi-annual occurrence which is already accommodated on the road network. These shut-down periods, although regular, is over limited time periods. Table 4.1: Trip Generation AM/PM peaks Transport mode Daily AM Peak Generated Trips (veh/hr) Daily PM Peak In Out Total In Out Total Light vehicles Buses/taxis Trucks Total Excluding bi-annual unit shutdowns 4.2 Trip Distribution All trips were assigned to the external road network to determine the impact on the adjacent intersections. The majority of construction staff (buses, taxi, and private vehicles) will access the site via the primary access off Jan Haak Avenue, and the private vehicles for the Project Management team will be traveling via Jan Haak Avenue and Carl Bosch Road where they will park at the west gate (Sastech), off Carl Bosch Road. Refer to Figure 2 for the trip distribution. The generated weekday AM and PM peak hour trips are shown in Figures 3. Project number: R Dated: 2013/09/ Revised: 2013/10/17

13 Image: Google Maps Figure 4.2: Expected trip distribution onto the surrounding road network (% vehicles) 4.3 Trip Assignment Detailed trip assignment was not undertaken, as the existing background traffic volumes were not known. The local road network in the vicinity of the site does not provide any through-fare or mobility function east of NATREF, therefore a detailed analysis was not regarded as necessary for this assessment

14 5 Intersection Operational Assessment 5.1 Jan Haak Avenue / Carl Bosch Road intersection This is a conventional Stop-controlled T-junction, and 50% of the traffic will use this intersection approximately 313 veh/hr during the AM and PM peaks. Geometric upgrades may be required at the intersection, in the form of passing lanes along Jan Haak Avenue, and an additional lane from the Carl Bosch approach. 5.2 Jan Haak Avenue / Paardeberg Street intersection This is an unconventional T-junction, with a wide median along Jan Haak Avenue that allows for right-turn queuing space from Paardeberg to Jan Haak (westbound) and from Jan Haak to Paardeberg (northbound). Approximately 50% of the traffic will use this intersection approximately 313 veh/hr during the AM and PM peaks. Geometric upgrades may be required at the intersection, possible a conventional large diameter (30 m) dual-lane roundabout. 5.3 Carl Bosch Road / Pichler Road intersection This intersection was recently upgraded to a large diameter spiral roundabout with 2 circulating lanes and additional slipways to and from Pichler Road. Approximately 50% of the construction traffic will use this intersection approximately 313 veh/hr during the AM and PM peaks, and upgrades will not be required. 5.4 Summary of the Traffic Impact during the Construction Period Limited traffic related information was available during the initial phase of this study, which resulted in the preparation of a Traffic Impact Statement, and excluded the detail capacity analysis of the adjacent affected intersections of Jan Haak Avenue/Carl Bosch Road, Jan Haak Avenue/Paardeberg Road and Carl Bosch Road/Pichler Road. The scheduled unit shut-down periods during the NCF2 project will increase the traffic volumes, for 1-month periods at a time; however these shut-downs are a regular bi-annual event which is accommodated on the road network. The design phase of the project should make provision for the detailed capacity analysis of the Jan Haak Avenue/Carl Bosch Road and Jan Haak Avenue/Paardeberg Road intersection. This analysis should be based on revised trip generation figures, as supplied by the NATREF and their main contractor. The analysis will confirm the geometric or other upgrades required at the intersection. In summary, the expected additional trip generation during the 5-year NCF2 project is moderate (625 veh/hr during AM and PM peaks), and the local road network does not provide through traffic or mobility functions adjacent to the site; therefore this limited Traffic Impact Statement is regarded as sufficient. Project number: R Dated: 2013/09/ Revised: 2013/10/17

15 6 Access Management and Control 6.1 Primary Access - Jan Haak Avenue This access operates satisfactorily, with over 400m of queuing space, and wide access lanes. A separate security controlled access is available for pedestrians. The additional vehicles can be accommodated at the access, and no changes geometric or operational changes are required. 6.2 Dispatch access - Carl Bosch Road This access is only used by heavy vehicles to load products, and the limited staff who work in this section of the refinery. This access will not be used for construction related access during the NCF2 project. The access will operate unchanged after construction of the CF2 project, as a marginally higher number of vehicles will access the site during the subsequent operational phase. 6.3 Secondary access - Carl Bosch Road This access is currently used for access to the lapa area of the refinery, and provides access for minimal vehicle volumes. This access will be used to access the new parking area, for the majority of the private vehicles during the NCF2 project. The additional vehicles can be accommodated at the access, and no changes geometric or operational changes are required

16 7 Accommodation of Public Transport and Pedestrians 7.1 Public Transport All construction staff will be transported to and from the refinery with dedicated vehicles (buses, taxis and private vehicles), and minimal additional public transport trips will be generated during the CF2 construction period. A dedicated public transport drop-off facility should however be considered for the duration of the CF2 project. The facility should ideally be located on-site near the primary access. 7.2 Pedestrians As above, due to all construction staff transported to site, there will be no increase in pedestrian activities to and from the site during the CF2 construction period. Project number: R Dated: 2013/09/ Revised: 2013/10/17

17 8 Parking Assessment 8.1 Parking requirements and provision Construction staff will be transported to and from the refinery in dedicated buses, taxis and private vehicles; the buses and taxis will depart from the site after dropping off the workers at the start of the shift in the mornings, and will return in the afternoon to pick up construction workers. Any additional parking requirements during the CF2 construction phase will be accommodated onsite, as NATREF has indicated that they will prepare additional parking, probably inside the secondary fenced area, for approximately 500 cars. Parking requirements will marginally increase after completion of the project, as only 25 to 30 additional staff per shift will access the refinery during the subsequent operational phase

18 9 Preliminary Conclusions and Recommendations 9.1 Conclusions From the analysis results the following can be concluded: (i) (ii) (iii) (iv) (v) (vi) The 4 options contained in the Final Scoping Report, dated December 2012, detailing the various alternative locations of the 4 new plants; will have no impact on the construction period and subsequent operational traffic volumes or distribution. The options were therefore not analysed individually. There is no preferred alternative option from a traffic perspective, as the traffic impacts of the options will be similar. The construction phase will approximately 625 additional trips during the weekday AM and PM peak periods, and will cause some traffic impact on the adjacent intersections. External road infrastructure upgrades may be required for the CF2 construction phase, and should be determined during the detail design of the CF2 project. No external road infrastructure upgrades will be required for the subsequent CF2 operational phase. Public transport, parking and pedestrian provision is sufficient, and will be marginally affected during the CF2 construction phase. (vii) Public transport, parking and pedestrian provision is sufficient for the subsequent CF2 operational phase. 9.2 Recommendations It is recommended that the Traffic Impact Statement for the proposed NATREF CF2 project be approved. Project number: R Dated: 2013/09/ Revised: 2013/10/17

19 10 References COLTO, South African Trip Generation Rates Manual. Draft. Department of Transport, 1995a, Manual for Traffic Impact Studies, RR 93/635. Department of Transport, 1995b, South African Trip Generation Rates, RR92/228, June. Department of Transport, 1985, Parking Standards (Second Edition), PG3/85. NATREF Clean Fuels II in Sasolburg, Free State. Final Scoping Report, NEMAI Consulting. 14 December

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