The City has officially announced the commencement of the construction of the iconic cycle and pedestrian bridge over the M1 highway.
The bridge will be on Grayston Drive and link Alexandra with Sandton.
This was said at the sod-turning ceremony for the project by MMCs for Development Planning, Roslyn Greeff; MMC for Transport, Christine Walters; and MMC for Public Safety, Sello Lemao in the presence of City speaker, Connie Bapela and counsellors,
Greef said the project was part of the Rea Vaya transport network and an official recognition of walking and cycling as alternative means of travel for over 10 000 people who walk and cycle daily between the two places.
Walters added that the bridge will have dedicated lanes alongside the vehicle bridge and will be a continuation of a 5km stretch of walk and cycle lanes stretching from Alex to Sandton. The route will commence at Number 3 Square, Alex through Alfred Nzo Avenue, into Watts Street and across Louis Botha Avenue, onto Rautenbach Street in Wynberg, onto Grayston Drive, Katherine Street along Linden Street into Maud Street and end at the corner of 5th Street in Sandton.
She said the project which will cost R130 million will be completed by October next year, while the sidewalks were started last year in Alex. She added that the project was one of the City’s corridors of freedom and will link two communities with opposite economic backgrounds and create a visual gateway into the economic hub of the country. “It will have lights, pedestrian pose points, hawker stalls and CCTV cameras for security, as well as greenery through low-maintenance trees and shrubs. Local artists will be engaged to do artwork depicting the life and history of the community.”
Walters also stated that it will have utmost safety and universal access, through barriers separating it from vehicles and no steps to accommodate the frail and those in wheelchairs.
Lemau added that the City was investigating options for the management and safety of the bridge.
Details: Nkosinathi Nkabinde; 011 407 6477, nkosinathin@joburg.org.za
