2010 transport roadshow begins

Minister of Transport Jeff Radebe, Johannesburg mayor Amos Masondo, Gauteng Transport MEC Ignatius Jacobs, LOC CEO Danny Jordan and other senior government and city officials, as well as local and international media travelling in the same bus from the Southern Sun Hotel Grayston, made several stops in and around Johannesburg to have a look at the ongoing works, interact with construction site leaders and employees about challenges they face and the expected date of completion.

First stop was Soweto, where a 5.5km road of N17 between Nasrec Road and Klipspruit Valley, an intersection N17 Link-Soweto Highway and other strategic roads, as well as eight bridges, are being built by the Group Five construction company.

Direct access

The project is designed in accordance with the Joburg's Reavaya Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) and will unlock the Nasrec precinct - future home of the International Broadcasting Centre - with the rest of Gauteng and give a better and direct access to Orlando Stadium (training venue) and Soccer City (playing venue). The total cost is R420 million, which is jointly financed by the SA National Roads Agency, City of Johannesburg and the Gauteng Provincial Government. It is expected to be completed by December 2009.

The delegation also visited the Doornfontein train station, 200 metre away from Ellis Park Stadium, which is about to be totally demolished to make way for a 100 metre elevated modern train station and retail components (banks and shops). The cost of the project is estimated at R179 million.

Other construction sites visited include the Joubert Park BRT station and Ellis Park BR,T where three stations will be built to link Bruma Lake, University of Johannesburg and surrounding areas to the stadium.

The BRT system will provide much needed access to the Nasrec and Ellis Park precincts, transporting large volumes of fans on event days.

Concerns over readiness

As the kick-off of the 2010 FIFA World Cup draws near - 758 days from now - there were concerns over the readiness of transport infrastructure in SA.

But back at Southern Sun, Radebe moved quickly to soothe these concerns, telling the media that SA will rise against all odds to meet FIFA requirements for the execution of a successful 2010 World Cup.

“We will accelerate public transport improvements by using 2010 as a catalyst to bring forward projects that would otherwise have been rolled out in the medium to long term,” he said.

“This event signals the kick-off of a roadshow we will be undertaking jointly with the media to physically inspect and showcase transport projects across all host cities.”

Masondo said, “The hosting of the 2010 World Cup remains an important milestone for Joburg. Therefore the city is committed to deliver its 2010 FIFA commitments on time, within budget and without compromising quality.”

The next leg of the roadshow will take place in Cape Town later this month.