Road Traffic Act · 2026 Revised Edition · Part · Traffic on Roads
79. Powers of Director General of Public Works and local authority to close roads and to control traffic on bridges
Official textFrom Attorney General's Chambers, unchanged
Wherever the Director General of Public Works or any local authority responsible for the maintenance of any road considers that such road or any part thereof —
Director
“Director” means the Director of Land Transport and includes any Deputy Director appointed under section 3(2);
is unfit for use by any vehicle or class or description of vehicle; or
is required for the purposes of construction, repair or reconstruction works, the Director General of Public Works or the local authority or any person authorised by the Director General of Public Works or the authority may by notice posted in a conspicuous manner at each end of such road prohibit any vehicle or class or description of vehicle from using such road for any period not exceeding 3 months.
Wherever the Director General of Public Works or any local authority responsible for the maintenance of any bridge is satisfied that any bridge over which a road passes is insufficient to carry vehicles of which the gross weights or dimensions exceed certain limits, the Director General of
local authority
“local authority” includes any Municipal Board set up under section 3 of the Municipal Boards Act;
Public Works or authority or any person authorised by the Director General of Public Works or authority may by notice posted in a conspicuous manner on or near such bridge, or on or near the road leading thereto, prohibit the use of the bridge by any vehicle —
person
“person” shall have the meaning assigned to it by the Interpretation and General Clauses Act;
of which the gross weight exceeds a maximum weight specified in the notice;
of which the dimensions exceeds any maximum dimensions specified in the notice;
at a speed in excess of any maximum speed specified in the notice.
Terms defined in s 2
Director
Defined · s 2“Director” means the Director of Land Transport and includes any Deputy Director appointed under section 3(2);
gross weight
Defined · s 2“gross weight” means the net weight of a motor vehicle together with such weight of goods or passengers or both as the vehicle may be authorised in terms of this Act to carry;
local authority
Defined · s 2“local authority” includes any Municipal Board set up under section 3 of the Municipal Boards Act;
person
Defined · s 2“person” shall have the meaning assigned to it by the Interpretation and General Clauses Act;
road
Defined · s 2“road” means any highway and any other road to which the public has access, and includes bridges over which a road passes;
traffic
Defined · s 2“traffic” includes vehicles of every description, pedestrians, processions, and bodies of troops and all animals being ridden, driven or led;
vehicle
Defined · s 2“vehicle” means any vehicle, including a trailer, constructed, adapted or capable of being used on roads, whether mechanically propelled or not.