Hill Street upgrade underway
RANDBURG CBD – The project to upgrade Hill Street is expected to be completed by the end of November this year.
The project to upgrade Hill Street at the Randburg Square shopping centre is well underway.
This project by Johannesburg Development Agency (JDA) is meant to build a robust, liveable, walkable, safe CBD and increase the use of existing infrastructure and the public transport facilitates and its integration.
JDA spokesperson, Susan Monyai, said the project was to complement urban management and improve investor confidence.
“This is the project to upgrade the Randburg precinct with a focus on place identity and the creation of a high-quality public environment. Its intention is to produce a safe, attractive, liveable environment and encourage owners to upgrade their buildings,” she said.
This project will include new lighting, paving, trees, bins, bollards, planters, stormwater upgrades and waterproofing.
Ward 102 Councillor, David Potter, elaborated that the upgrade was long overdue. “The first phase from Kent to Oak avenues along Hill Street had extreme challenges. The second phase of the project from Oak Avenue to Pretoria Street and from Pretoria Street to Bram Fischer Drive seems to be yielding the results needed,” he said.
He explained that the City had also decided to remove the pedestrian bridge on the corner of Jan Smuts Avenue and Bram Fischer Drive.
“More upgrades are in the planning phase for the Randburg CBD, which has been neglected largely by the City for many years,” he concluded.
Monyai admitted the project was initially delayed by the poor performance of the previous contractor and concerns raised by the property owners who requested that some activities be undertaken at night.
“JDA terminated the initial contractor due to non-performance and re-advertised the project to appoint a new contractor. The project is currently being completed by another contractor. The current contractor is not behind schedule,” she said.
The upgrade is scheduled to be completed by 25 November, this year. Tina White from the Randburg Management District said the CBD was an economic hub of Randburg. “The City realised that they could not allow the area to completely deteriorate,” she said.
Details: Johannesburg Development Agency, 011 688 7867; Ward 102 Councillor David Potter, david@oursuburb.co.za.
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