June 13, 2002
By Lucille Davie
GAUTENG authorities are considering a number of alternative routes for the proposed Gautrain express, following submissions at public meetings in April this year.
Jeremy Boswell, Managing Director of Bohlweki Environmental, the company doing environmental impact assessments for the Gautrain, says: "These routes are a direct result of the active involvement of interested parties who assisted Bohlweki with meaningful solutions to alignment challenges."
Members of the public in Sandton, Pretoria and Centurion are invited to attend a further series of meetings to be held in late June.
"We will continue to interact with affected communities in order to find a route with the least impact," says Boswell.
The following areas may be newly affected by the proposed alternatives:
- Sandton: Illovo, Inanda, Chislehurston, Strathavon
- Centurion: Villa Rosa, SANDF military bases
- Pretoria: Arcadia, Clydesdale, Sunnyside, Trevenna, Berea and the Pretoria CBD
The proposed alternatives in these areas are as follows:
- Fricker Street, Illovo
- Alternative routes between Sandton CBD and Marlboro, including a new Marlboro Station location
- Alternative route between Marlboro and Midrand to east of Buccleuch
- The refinement of the reference route closer to K101 (old Pretoria-Johannesburg road)
- Alternative route west of Cricket Stadium with adjusted Centurion Station location on West Street
- Alternative routes through military areas
- Alternative routes via the Pretoria CBD, Muckleneuk and Park Street, Sunnyside
- Alternative route past Linbro Park and Modderfontein
- Alternative Rhodesfield Station location
- Possible Park and Ride Station, Hatfield
- Possible Park and Ride Station, Samrand
Interested and affected parties are invited to the following meetings:
Sandton: Wednesday, 26 June, 6.30pm, at Sandown Hall
Centurion: Thursday, 27 June, 6.30pm, Centurion Town Hall
Pretoria: Monday, 1 July, 6.30pm, Pretoria Girls High School.
A Draft Issues Report was produced as a result of the public meetings held in April. The report is open for viewing and comment until 18 June.
The 80-kilometre Gautrain will link Johannesburg, Pretoria and the Johannesburg International Airport. It is to be built at a cost of R7-billion and it is believed that it will relieve the freeway congestion between Johannesburg and Pretoria, where 300 000 people travel the road each week.
Some 650 houses will have to be expropriated to make way for the train, although 14 kilometres of the route will be underground.
The environmental impact study is still in progress and is expected to be completed at the end of August. It will then be available for public scrutiny, and will also be sent to the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism for final approval before construction of the Gautrain begins.
Bohlweki asks that those considering attending the meetings, register their interest by contacting Nanette Hattingh or Gift Magangane on 011 805 0250, or e-mail bohlweki@pixie.co.za
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