Pretoria - Tshwane has a plan to reduce congestion in the Centurion CBD – bordered by the N1, N14 and Clifton Avenue – and spread traffic across the entire road and street grid in the region.
This is detailed in an ambitious multi-billion rand proposed framework to guide development processes in the area, tabled in council this week.
In the plan, which will be made available for public comment, the city acknowledges the Centurion node was facing significant and exciting increase in development pressures and interests.
This called for an urgent review of planning and consideration of the impact of the proposed Symbio City tower, as well as municipal-driven African Gateway. This will consist of an international convention centre and government precinct.
The city recognised that the Centurion CBD, while still viable as a residential and business area, had lost its identity, human scale and overall urban quality.
Cost for the rehabilitation of the Centurion Lake, a thorn in the flesh for residents and businesses in the area, has been set at R158 million as part of the plan.
In the almost 300-page document, Tshwane indicated that additional capacity would be required in the form of upgraded and additional interchanges as part of infrastructure needs for the wider Centurion node. This includes areas such as Rooihuiskraal North, Eldoraigne, Wierda Park, Clubview and Amberfield.
Interchange upgrades or constructions have been proposed for John Vorster Drive, Botha, Jean and West avenues, and HF Ver-woerd and Rooihuiskraal drives.
It was suggested that the routes for regional bus services within Centurion be consolidated within the proposed bus rapid transit system into an internal public transport ring. The ring would consist of Lenchen and Botha avenues, River and Station roads, Gerhard Street, and Hendrik Verwoerd and John Vorster drives.
The routes are linked to the Gautrain and Metrorail services, and appropriate intermodal facilities will be planned in the vicinity of the respective stations.
An “intra CBD” movement public transport route has been proposed, which could include Symbio City and be operated by a public-private-partnership arrangement. Some elements of the proposed grid are incomplete and will need upgrading or construction, including widening of sections of John Vorster Drive and Lenchen Avenue.
Important intersections, including John Vorster Drive with Heuwel Road, Lenchen Avenue North and Gerhard Street; West Avenue and Rabie Street; and Jean Avenue and the N14 south-bound off-ramp, will be upgraded.
The city proposed the increase of regional access points off the N1 and N14 in a manner that will assist in spreading traffic loads within the CBD, thus providing greater choice of route to and from the area.
Another objective is to establish an integrated vehicular and pedestrian network with capacity that will improve local access and circulation and accommodate existing and longer-term development expectations.
Pedestrian prioritisation will be enhanced via a network that effectively and safely links transport nodes, land use districts and neighbourhoods.
Pretoria News