The Rosebank Taxi Rank, located on the corner of Craddock Avenue and Biermann Avenue, will from 12 June be moved to the park at the Rosebank Public Library while it undergoes an upgrade.
It is estimated the renovations will take about two and a half months to complete.
Tim Truluck, the ward councillor for Ward 117 said, “It’s been about 20 years since it was moved here and Rosebank has changed a lot since then, so really it’s always been too small and it’s tired.”
The upgrade will include a new roof which will be much wider than the current one, a raised pedestrian crossing at the loading area for passengers, and a new traffic signal phase allowing for public transport to turn at the intersection of Biermann Avenue and Craddock Avenue. In addition, the informal trader stalls will be upgraded and roller shutter doors will be installed so that traders can lock up their wares.
The entrance to the taxi rank will also change, said Truluck. The entrance is currently located at the corner of Biermann and Craddock avenues but after the upgrade the entrance will be at the corner of Jellicoe and Craddock avenues.
The large amount of construction taking place in Rosebank meant finding a free, alternative space for the taxi rank during the renovations was slightly difficult. However, the parking area of the Rosebank Public Library and the park next to it were deemed suitable.
“I think the primary fear is that the park [Rosebank Public Library park] then becomes another taxi rank which it won’t because it’ll be closed off afterwards and moved back [to the original taxi rank at the corner of Craddock and Biermann].
Nobuntu Ciko Duze, the deputy director of the department of transport said there were bound to be some traffic implications during the renovations.
However, she added, “The City has made arrangements with the affected minibus taxi associations to lessen those traffic impacts by having less holding activity happening in Rosebank CBD. We will be engaging with the associations to ensure that we manage those impacts as best as we can.”
Tell us what you think of the upgrade planned for the Rosebank Taxi Rank on 079 439 5345.
