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Work on the Nasrec link has been delayed by heavy rains over the past two months, but now work is going full tilt to complete construction before the World Cup.
CONSTRUCTION for the Rea Vaya Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system is rapidly progressing along the Nasrec Link, which involves road upgrades, building BRT stations and traffic accommodation.
The link extends from Westgate Station in the inner city, along the Soweto Highway, past Soccer City to end at the Mooki Street - Main Road intersection in Orlando East, Soweto.
Pulling out all the stops to complete the work
Work under way in this phase includes the reconstruction of layer works with asphalt overlays to accommodate a single BRT lane in each direction, as well as street lighting and pavement paving. Roads are made up of a number of layers, which transfer the traffic load into the ground, explains Nkosinathi Manzana, a senior development manager at the Johannesburg Development Agency (JDA).
“The top asphalt layer merely acts as a wearing course and sealant to the layers underneath.”
WEIGHT ON ROAD
The thickness and type of layers are decided upon by the expected frequency of vehicles and their weight on roads. Articulated BRT buses are heavier when fully loaded, therefore most existing trunk routes required re-construction of layers to provide a higher load bearing pavement structure to carry these heavier buses.
Progress from Westgate to Booysens, in the southwest, includes the completed BRT road lane construction and installation of communications equipment involving fibre optic cables that are linked to the control room. Water and sewer services are finished, while electrical installation is ongoing.
Construction work in Soweto
There are three modules in operation at Westgate Station and Lakeview Station is operational. BRT stations, where passengers are picked up and dropped off, come in modules or pods based on the expected commuter demand. “Three modules simply mean there are three pods that make up that one station,” says Manzana.
JOINT ROUTE
At present, Rea Vaya buses share a joint route with taxis from Trump Street West through Treu Road to Mentz Street, in Booysens. This route will benefit both inner city and Soweto passengers; however, private cars have to steer clear of this route where signage is in position.
Phase 2B of this construction includes upgrading BRT road layer works on the road median, which is the middle of the road or island that separates traffic going in two different directions, from the Mooki / Main intersection on the Soweto Highway, which then links to phase one of the project at the N1 western by-pass bridge.
Work includes road widening around stations; street lights are relocated and pavements are paved; there is also a dedicated BRT lane and two traffic lanes in each direction.
Progress in this phase includes a completed asphalt overlay, which is done to repair minor cracks and indentations and to give the road a new seal, for mixed traffic lanes for 75 percent of this section. The remainder of the work will be completed by May, because a water pipe had to be relocated.
UNDERPASS
The Nasrec Station underpass, which allows passenger flow from Soccer City Stadium to the Soweto Highway allowing for access to the BRT station, is approximately 60 percent complete. Ventilation shafts, the ticketing area, access ramps, station platforms and finishes are being completed.
According to Manzana, the main reason for building the underpass was to get passengers from the BRT station across the Soweto Highway to the stadium without the risk of them crossing at road level. Enhancing traffic flow was another reason for the underpass.
Commuters will arrive at the station platform and ramp moving down to a level below ground and then travel to the southern side of the highway. The entire transport structure is 80 metres long, of which 50 metres will run underground, with natural light shafts at regular intervals complemented by artificial lighting.
The stations in Diepkloof and Noordgesig were completed in 2009. At the Noordgesig Station a pedestrian-crossing traffic light was installed to ensure passenger safety and at the Booysens Reserve Station the platforms have all been completed.
Road lane reductions from the intersections of the Soweto Highway and the N1 western by-pass, which extend through Diepkloof towards Madlala Street, have concluded and traffic has normalised.
Traffic deviations have been introduced along a section of the Soweto Highway, between Madlala and Mooki streets, to ease construction. This construction will mainly affect west-bound traffic towards Madlala Street, with only buses and taxis allowed through the construction area. Cars must take a detour along a back road in Orlando East, which joins Mooki Street.
“There is always a challenge to accommodate all road users during construction and the patience of all motorists and commuters is appreciated. A number of road deviations have been put in place to give unimpeded access to the works in order to speed up construction,” says Manzana.
“Alternative routes have been identified and communicated through the media and distribution of pamphlets. The continued support of the [Joburg metro police] in manning traffic intersections during peak hours is also helpful and appreciated.”
GOLDEN HIGHWAY
A section of the Golden Highway will become a new road linking Rand Show Road and the Soweto Highway. Dedicated BRT lanes are being built as well as two traffic lanes in each direction. Work here will include installing new street lights and paving for about 1,6 kilometres.
This section of infrastructure is about 80 percent complete and an asphalt base has been applied to a part of the road, which covers about 80 percent. Earthworks are wrapped up and layer works are under way.
Installation of the new Multi Product Pipeline Project fuel line that crosses the road at two places has been completed by other stakeholders, leaving a remainder of the work to be done on the west of the road.
The link will be used for BRT buses to get into the Nasrec precinct and incorporates it with Pat Mbatha Highway, which is due to be completed by March.
A BRT station has also been allowed in the transport hub which forms part of the Nasrec precinct development.
The road used as a shortcut to reach Pat Mbatha or Rand Show Road has been closed. The intersection with the Soweto Highway has deviations allowing for construction and will be barricaded at certain sections depending on construction. On the Rand Show Road side there are minimal traffic problems.
“The timelines are very tight due to the incessant rains in December 2009 and January 2010. The aim is to complete all the works in time for the FIFA construction embargo at the end of May 2010,” says Manzana.
“Efforts to recover the lost time and current detail programmes indicate that the deadline will be met. The teams are already working on weekends and plans are afoot to work consider night work and public holidays should the need arise.”
Construction along the Nasrec Link began in June 2009 and is expected to be completed before the 2010 FIFA World Cup™.
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