Construction nightmare looming
The construction of the B2 Line of Y Re Yeng has started but authorities said that traffic flow would not be too badly affected.
Construction of the bus rapid transit system (BRT) near Menlyn is underway, raising the spectre of traffic nightmares in the area.
Contractors have started work on the bulk services along Atterbury Road and January Masilela Drive in the first phase of the project.
Though authorities did not predict major traffic disruptions, experts have warned motorists to brace themselves for delays on Atterbury Road.
Actual construction of a section of the B2 Line of Tshwane’s A Re Yeng bus rapid transit system is expected to start soon.
Building the dedicated BRT lane and a bus station in Atterbury Road from the Menlyn centre to January Masilela Drive was expected to take about 18 months.
Tshwane metro is in the process of rezoning the appropriate areas to accommodate the BRT system and also for the station to be erected in January Masilela Drive, DA councillor Siobhan Muller said.
She said work on the line had started and that contractors were currently moving the services in reparation of the bus lane construction.
The metro this week failed to respond to questions about the construction of this part of the BRT.
Though the construction on this section of the B2 Line had not raised any controversy, the lengthy building period and complicated construction of a ring road were expected to add travelling time, especially during peak traffic hours.
“The plan is to have three regular vehicle lanes in each direction and a dedicated BRT lane also in each direction,” said Muller.
She said the northern lanes would be elevated to accommodate the proposed quarter link, which was essential for the proposed development by Eris Props to the north of Atterbury.
The extension of the Line 2B trunk route will run along Atterbury Road between Lois Street and January Masilela Drive in Menlyn.
The route will include one median station and will also include the construction of a new road – Dallas Road.
Developer Eris Props plans to build a new development north of Atterbury Road.
“Eris Props went through a very lengthy and thorough public participation process with the affected community to the north of Kelvin Street.”
The property developer had also bought or taken options on residential properties to the south of Kelvin Street to accommodate the development of office space.
Kelvin Street runs parallel with Atterbury Road on the northern side.
Because a new dedicated lane was being built on both sides of the affected roads, attempts would be made to keep traffic disruptions during the construction to a minimum, the metro earlier said.
“The third lane is being built next to the existing traffic lanes and therefore most work will be performed without disrupting traffic flow.”
Muller said a consequences of this proposal would be densification in the area around the bus station, said Muller.
The construction of the bus station would take place in the final phase of the project.
Meanwhile, controversy surrounding the construction of the BRT system from Menlyn to Loftus Versfeld west of the N1, continues.
To save costs, the metro said it would no longer construct a third lane in both directions, but would instead reserve one lane in both directions in the two major east-west arteries exclusively for A Re Yeng.
Traffic management experts, residents and business were up in arms about the decision, saying this would cause on of the biggest traffic nightmares in the city – effectively cutting the east off from the city centre.
The DA at the time launched a petition against the metro’s plan and had to date collected more than 3 500 signatures opposing the decision.
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Lack of parking on TRT construction route affects small businesses
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