September 13, 2004
By Thomas Thale
A MAJOR project to build an elaborate transport holding facility in Soweto, expected to cost over R100-million, is on track to be completed by the end of 2006.
Phase three of the Baragwanath Public Transport Facility
Construction on the third phase of the development, a transport holding facility, has been given the go-ahead by council.
The City of Johannesburg, through the Department of Development Planning, Transport and Environment has contributed much of the finance for the project, with an injection of R3-million for phase two from the National Department of Transport, says Robert Michael-Bathke, development manager for Baralink at the Johannesburg Development Agency (JDA).
The Baragwanath Public Transport Facility is being built along the Old Potchefstroom Road, extending eastward up to the main pedestrian bridge into the Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital and westward to the Lesedi Clinic.
As construction on the second phase of the facility next to Lesedi Clinic nears completion, work on the second holding area is set to begin.
The first phase was the realignment of the Old Potchefstroom Road in front of the hospital, to make way for the upgrading of the public taxi rank and informal traders market. This R10-million project was completed in November 2003.
The second phase of public transport facility is an impressive structure, which boasts 170 holding bays, with a covered walkway for pedestrians, facilities for hawkers and an ablution block.
This facility, built at a cost of R18-million, forms the second element of the ambitious Baralink project, a multi-million rand development which seeks to change the face of the area, turning it into a pulsating commercial, cultural and residential zone. Michael-Bathke says taxis will be relocated to the new facility in October.
Now the council has given the go-ahead for R32-million to be transferred to the JDA to commence with the construction of the third phase: a facility with 20 bays for buses and 25 bays for long-distance taxis. It will also have hawker facilities, ablution, recreation and meeting rooms for taxis and buses. Construction of this phase is expected to be completed within 12 months.
In the fourth phase of the project, two ranks, one with 129 single lane bays and the other with 124 bays, will be constructed, says Michael-Bathke.
Phase four, which will start before the end of 2005, will see the two taxi ranks being constructed at a cost of R39-million.
In the final phase of the development, the pedestrian bridge that goes into the hospital will be upgraded and CCTV cameras installed. New street lights have already been installed along Old Potchefstroom Road.
The completion of the public sector funded transport facility is expected to give impetus to initiatives in the private sector to construct middle and low-income housing, shopping malls and recreational facilities in the area as part of the Baralink project.
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