The rehabilitation of Thabo Mbeki Street in the city that started earlier this month currently creates some discomfort for residents, but once completed, will bring the street to the obligatory standards required to meet the conditions of the Polokwane Integrated Public Transport System (PIRPTS).
Mantlako Sebaka, Marketing, Communication and Stakeholder Relations Manager in the Transportation Services Directorate of Polokwane Municipality confirmed that the construction work on Thabo Mbeki Street was part of the Leeto la Polokwane infrastructure development in preparation of phase 1A of the Bus Rapid Transport (BRT) project. “It is part of the central business district (CBD) complimentary route that is running from the CBD to Flora Park,” he added and explained that the rehabilitation of Thabo Mbeki Street was part of the 2018/2019 infrastructure budget with timeframes of about five months, however, the municipality is expecting practical completion in December 2018.
Sebaka also confirmed that the PIRPTS was on track and that the tender for the first buses have been awarded. “We plan to go live by April 2019,” he said and added that the municipality receives annual allocations from the national Department of Transport to finance the entire project. “During the 2017/18 financial year we received R179 million, followed by R112 million for the current financial year,” he said.
Story & photos: BARRY VILJOEN
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