April 12, 2005
By Tabisa Mntengwana
WORK on the Baragwanath taxi rank - one of the busiest transport nodes in the country - is on track, with the third phase nearing completion.
The Baragwanath Public Transport Facility and Traders Market project, implemented by the Johannesburg Development Agency (JDA) for Johannesburg's Department Of Development Planning, Transportation And Environment, forms a crucial part of the economic development of the area.
"A large majority of Soweto residents must pass through the transport facility in order to get to and from work and home," according to the JDA.
The Baragwanath Public Transport Facility is being built along Old Potchefstroom Road, extending east towards the main pedestrian bridge to Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital and west towards the Lesedi Clinic.
The upgrade includes extensive rank space for taxis and buses, trading facilities for vendors, and safe walkways for pedestrians. "The construction of the new facilities will provide present and future commuters with a more pleasant experience," says JDA's development manager Robert Bathke. "We encourage commuters to make use of the facilities."
An amount of R100-million has been allocated for the whole project, which was divided into five separate, successive phases.
Work began in 2003 with the realignment of Old Potchefstroom Road, the extension of pedestrian bridges, the construction of walkways, and the building of meeting rooms and toilets.
Phase two followed, with the construction of the first taxi holding area, which has more than 220 bays. Walkways and trading and ablution facilities in the same section were also completed. Small offices and meeting rooms have also been constructed.
A total of R20-million was spent on the first two phases.
Phase three nears an end
Now the third phase - costing R32-million - is drawing to a close. Work should be complete in August 2005. A further 216 taxi bays will be added to the infrastructure along with 20 bus bays and 25 long distance taxi bays.
This phase includes the construction of walkways with integrated informal trading facilities as well as toilets, recreation facilities and meeting rooms.
According to a press release the major priority of the project is to provide hawker stalls to informal traders that have been operating at the rank for a long time and also accommodate all transport vehicles.
Bathke adds that the walkways will provide a safe, pleasant and shaded cover for pedestrians and commuters.
Two more phases are still in the pipeline.
Phase four, which is due to begin towards the end of 2005, will cost R39-million. It involves work on the main taxi loading area and market stalls for informal traders. This phase will see the construction of 129 single lane bays, 91 double lane bays and two taxi ranks.
The final phase will see security measures being put in place, including the upgrading of the pedestrian bridges as well as the installation of CCTV and lighting along Old Potchefstroom Road.
An important aspect of the development is the use of local labour as well as small, medium and micro enterprises from the area.
Work is expected to be complete on the Baragwanath rank - the main terminus for commuters and consumers in Soweto - by the end of 2006.
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