Johannesburg - The industrial business estate in Bridge City, the mixed-use commercial and residential town centre and business estate to the north of Durban that is set to attract R10 billion in public and private sector investment, has been released for development.
The release of the 17ha business estate follows the opening of the Bridge City Shopping Centre in 2009.
Bridge City is being developed through a public-private partnership between the eThekwini municipality and Tongaat Hulett.
Listed sugar producer Tongaat Hulett is the project manager responsible for implementation of the project and is the mandated sales agent for Bridge City.
Bridge City is expected to play a pivotal role in the development of eThekwini’s R20bn public transport system, improving access to the estate along the rapidly developing northern coastal corridor.
Cyril Gwala, Tongaat Hulett’s development director responsible for Bridge City, the River Horse Valley Business Estate and Cornubia, said at the recent release of the industrial business estate that land released for development was optimally located just 17km from the Durban port and 23km from King Shaka International Airport. The estate was expected to contribute towards lessening the shortage of serviced industrial land in Africa’s fastest-growing city.
Gwala added that Bridge City had been identified as a key node in the R20bn integrated rapid public transport network founded on the bus rapid transport (BRT) system recently announced by the eThekwini municipality.
This public transport network is designed to integrate bus, rail and taxi modes and provide reliable and affordable commuter transport that would benefit residents, workers and businesses.
The first phase of the public transport project comprises three BRT routes and a rail corridor, giving commuters three routes between the eThekwini region and Bridge City from which to choose.
As part of the first phase of the city’s transport development plan, dedicated bus and taxi lanes, pedestrian walkways, bus shelters and feeder routes will be built around Bridge City, the Durban city centre, Pinetown, Umlazi and Umhlanga.
On Saturday, President Jacob Zuma, accompanied by Transport Minister Dipuo Peters and KwaZulu-Natal Premier Senzo Mchunu, will launch the Bridge City station and rail link project at KwaMashu in Durban.
The government has invested more than R1bn in the project, built by the Department of Transport through the Passenger Rail Agency of SA.
The Bridge City station and rail link project is a significant public transport intervention that provides a new 3.2km rail link with a terminal station underneath the Bridge City shopping mall, as well as a fully integrated road-based transport interchange for convenient connectivity to the public transport system.
Gwala said a 4ha site in the Bridge City business estate had been sold for the new BRT depot.
He said the railway line, which was of strategic importance because it provided railway passengers with a link between the Bridge City development and the rest of Durban, would be completed by the end of next month.
Gwala said all parts of the line had already been installed and tested, and it was expected to be commissioned between December and January.
Once Bridge City was fully developed, it was expected the rail station alone would accommodate about 100 000 commuters a day, making it the second-busiest station in KwaZulu-Natal.
Gwala said there were plans to upgrade the road network around Bridge City, with the eThekwini municipality and Tongaat Hulett intending to construct a new half diamond interchange off the M25 giving dedicated road access to the Bridge City development and KwaMashu. - Business Report