Work is well underway on the construction of the new public transport facility (PTI) in the Somerset West central business district.
Construction of the R65 million project commenced about three months ago (“Upgrade underway,” DistrictMail, Thursday 10 February) and, once complete, the new facility is expected to transform the CBD, with multiple benefits for commuters, pedestrians, public transport operators and traders.
“Those who have been walking or driving around the vicinity of the new PTI would have noticed a beehive of activity,” said Councillor Rob Quintas, the City’s Mayco member for urban mobility, who further expressed his satisfaction with the progress on the construction site.
With about 15% of the work completed, Quintas reckoned the smoother the process goes the greater the chances of completing the project within the target of two years. To date, the contractor has installed the underground services needed for the facility, such as a water main and stormwater infrastructure. The foundations and concrete columns for the canopies or roofs are complete, as is the foundation for the ablution facilities. Old buildings have been demolished to make way for the new PTI, which will be located on two different sites in the Somerset West CBD – one behind the Town Hall and another on the Shoprite side. At the start of the week layerworks were underway at Church Street with the installation of kerbs and channels prioritised next.
“Given the magnitude of this project, it is important to continuously track our progress,” Quintas said. “The new PTI will comprise two sites abutting Church, Andries Pretorius and Victoria streets – approximately 4 000 m² in size – to accommodate both minibus-taxi operators and Golden Arrow Bus Service.”
An estimated 1 000 commuters and about 300 minibus taxis will use the new PTI, serving 12 destinations: Lwandle, Macassar, Firgrove, Strand, Nomzamo, Sir Lowry’s Pass Town, Zola, Khayelitsha, Stellenbosch, Somerset West and surroundings, and Grabouw.
