UPDATE: Slow progress on Ballito taxi rank

Construction of the new Ballito taxi rank has started and the rank is set to move into its new home within two months.

The new site is next to the Virgin Active gym, on land where the Shell Greenfields Service Station once stood.

KwaDukuza municipality (KDM) communications and knowledge officer Sphelelo Ngobese said on Monday that a contractor had been appointed to the site which was expropriated by KDM in February. Construction work began on March 2 and is anticipated to be completed by April 30.

“GnS Civils has been appointed as the contractor and started work on a temporary taxi rank on the site.

“A budget of R3 million from our reserve will be used to cover the opening of access roads, levelling of site, building of storm water system and also paying for engineer costs.”

Last month Ngobese announced that the taxi rank, currently on Ballito Drive next to the Sangweni Tourism Centre, would move once the temporary rank had been built.

KDM planned to build a temporary facility on the permanent site while they finalised the detailed design of the taxi rank. However the construction which was supposed to have started last month was delayed.

“The process of securing a contractor was delayed which lead to a delay of the temporary facility but the project is on track now. The scope of the project is site clearance, water and sewer reticulation, to sort out the storm water and drainage, fencing, shade ports, traffic accommodation and road works like asphalt surfacing, parking bays and painted markings,” said Ngobese.

While the land expropriation process for a permanent taxi rank site was ongoing, the current location of the taxi rank on Ballito Drive had been hampering the new Ballito Junction Mall’s road expansion project, which is intended to widen the road from the entrance of the Junction to the P445 (Ballito Drive).

Ngobese said despite KDM’s best efforts the taxi rank will not move in time for the opening of the mall.

>>> Meet the top players in the North Coast property industry. See our Property People feature.

>>> Looking for a church? Check out our Churches on the North Coast feature. 

Do you want to receive news alerts via WhatsApp? Send us a WhatsApp message (not an sms) with your name and surname to 061 718 4438.

Please read our WhatsApp broadcast list disclaimer.
Join us on BBM at 59015786
Join the conversation on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.