Pretoria - The City of Tshwane has cautioned motorists and residents to be patient as the construction of the A Re Yeng BRT system gets under way in the Menlyn Maine vicinity. The pre-construction work for the creation of the bus route has started, with trees and the ground being cleared to create a dedicated bus lane.
A member of the oversight committee for road and transport, Peter Millar, said the construction taking place between January Masilela Drive and Lois Avenue was being done to create access to Menlyn Maine, where the casino development is going to be, and is also one of the main reasons for the widening of lanes.
“The plan is to not only widen the existing lanes but also to create a dedicated bus lane for A Re Yeng buses. The actual erection of the BRT system has still not been finalised as there are issues regarding Lynnwood Road,” he said. Hiccups experienced during consultations was that costs needed to be reduced. One way would be to take one of the existing lanes and dedicate it to the bus lane but residents in the area objected to this.
“Residents protested about the move mainly because of the large amount of traffic it would create in the area. Currently, the construction company is pegging out where the actual road is going to be and lots of space is going to ensure that an inter-change road is created for the casino,” said Millar.The project is expected to take two years to complete and major traffic delays will be expected when construction gets under way.
Mayoral spokesman Blessing Manale confirmed that the construction site for A Re Yeng had been handed over to the contractor and that the development would mostly affect those needing to access the South African Local Government Association offices and the Glen High School.
“Traffic will be moved on to Garsfontein Road due to the heavy machinery being used but we hope that will ease in two months’ time.
“The city is very excited about the start of the construction and urges residents to use alternative routes and exercise patience,” he said.
The 7km long 2B line will run along Lynnwood Road from Loftus Versfeld station in Hatfield and go through January Masilela Drive, Lynnwood Road and Simon Ver- mooten Road. The R2.6 billion BRT system is expected to extend from Kopanong in Soshanguve, through the Rainbow Junction in Wonderboom, Pretoria CBD and continue to Menlyn, with a branch line to Hatfield and ending in Mamelodi.
Construction
* An eastbound 20m bridge
* Two-way BRT lanes on the west-bound carriageway
* Three east-bound traffic lanes
* A quarter-link to connect the Menlyn Maine development to Atterbury Road
* New culverts
* A BRT station underpass next to Menlyn shopping centre’s main entrance
* Walkways to be improved
* Street lighting and traffic lights at the affected intersections also to be installed
Pretoria News