Joburg Zoo parking area to get a facelift

Forest Town residents will have some relief from the Johannesburg Zoo traffic as the millions of annual visitors to the zoo will have a new place to park by 2016.

The zoo has approved plans for an elevated, staggered double-story 570-space parking deck at the Park Road entrance.

The new parking deck is expected to provide easier access for visitors coming by car and will see less cars parking outside residents’ houses on Park Road.

City Parks spokesperson Jenny Moodley said Johannesburg City Parks and Zoo had completed the tender process for the parking development.

“The advertised tender… closes on 26 September 2014. City Parks and Zoo anticipates the internal evaluation process be concluded by the second week of October, whereby a contractor will be on site by the last week of October,” said Moodley.

“Our aim is to have all the piles for the foundations done before the construction break in December 2014.”

Moodley said the construction is anticipated to run over a period of 26 to 30 months.

Ward 117 councillor, Tim Truluck said since the approval of the budget the deck has been designed with hanging gardens as one of the features of the new structure, so it fits into the landscape of the zoo.

“With the upper parking area closed off, visitors will have to use the parking area at Zoo Lake during construction,” said Truluck.

The ward councilor also commended Joburg City Parks and Zoo for having worked closely with the Forest Town Residents’ Association, who were able to give their input on the design of the parking deck.