December 11, 2006
By Anish Abraham
METRO Police officers are on hand to ease traffic flow in Rosebank, where diversions began last night to make way for the Gautrain.
The traffic detours will be in place for the next three years and Metro Police officers are stationed at the affected intersections. Oxford Road along the Rosebank shopping precinct has been converted into a southbound one-way lane, towards the city, as the Bombela Concession Company steps up construction at the Gautrain's Rosebank station.
The Bombela consortium, consisting of Bombardier Transportation, Bouygues Travaux Publics, Murray and Roberts and the Strategic Partners Group won the bid to construct the multibillion-rand rapid rail link.
"There was a steady build up of traffic in the morning, but everything is better now," said Wayne Minnaar, the Joburg Metro Police spokesperson. "We have placed officers at all the affected intersections and they are monitoring the situation."
A total of 50 metro police officers would be deployed to the area throughout the day - not only during rush hour - to regulate traffic flow. Minnaar was satisfied with the signage set up by Bombela, warning motorists about the road closures and giving alternative routes.
It has also set up a call centre and a route planning website for motorists to check their routes in the suburb.
Rosebank station
The traffic detours follow work over the past few months to widen roads and remove trees. The trees were dug up from the centre islands of roads to make way for one-way streets. They were replanted elsewhere in Johannesburg.
Northbound motorists - driving towards Sandton - now have to turn left into Bolton Road from Oxford Road, then turn right into Sturdee Avenue, turn right again into Jellicoe Avenue and finally turn left back into Oxford Road.
All north- and southbound public transport will travel along Bath Avenue, which will be converted into a two-way street. Once these diversions are in place, southbound traffic on Oxford Road will also be diverted so that the Rosebank station can be built.
The consortium had an agreement with the Johannesburg Roads Agency to provide separate routes through the suburb for private and public transport. Public transport will travel north- and southwards on Bath Avenue either northbound from Baker Street or southbound from Jellicoe Avenue to Baker Street.
For more information on the road closures in and around Rosebank, contact the Gautrain call centre on 0800 Gautrain (0800 428 87246) or visit the Gautrain route planning website.
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