The construction of the Somerset West Public Transport Interchange (PTI) has officially started following the City’s partial closure of Church Street in the CBD, which took effect at midnight on Tuesday 8 February.
However, a temporary holding area to accommodate hundreds of taxis for the next 24 months at least is yet to be finalised, and taxis are already inundating the surrounding parking at Shoprite.
“We are still investigating alternative sites that could serve as a holding area for the minibus-taxi operators and will communicate the outcome soonest,” stated Rob Quintas, the City’s Mayco member for urban mobility.
Property owners in Caledon Street, where the holding site was proposed to be located, successfully objected to this proposal last month which brought the upgrade to a temporary halt. They had threatened legal action before the City agreed to investigate alternate sites.
“There’s been no further correspondence so we don’t really know what’s happening, but as far as we are concerned the City will let us know what the alternatives are,” a property owner said this week.
The new multimillion rand PTI will comprise two sites abutting Church, Andries Pretorius and Victoria streets. Together, it will be approximately 4 000 m² in size, accommodating both minibus taxis and the Golden Arrow Bus Service.
Quintas said “the City will inform residents, business owners, minibus-taxi operators and other interested and affected parties once the site for the holding area has been confirmed”.
Golden Arrow buses have already been seen using a site on Burg Street, which was suggested as an alternative by residents, yet taxi’s are reported to have been parking on pavements surrounding the Shoprite Centre over the past few days, and they expect this trend to continue.
Businesses opposite the library, which has become a drop-off and pick-up point, have also already expressed concerns relating to loud music, rowdy crowds and urinating in public.
Quintas stated that the building contractor is contractually obligated to maintain and keep the area tidy for the duration of the construction.
“Part of their obligation is to provide security, refuse bins and toilets which should be regularly serviced. The City’s Urban Waste Directorate and other relevant departments will also assist as needed.”
Asked on what will comprise the start of the construction period, Quintas replied: “The project is not being phased, the reason being we want to reduce the construction time as much as possible so that we can limit the inconvenience and disruptions caused to the public, visitors, businesses, residents, traders and minibus-taxi operators and commuters.”
V Church Street is closed to traffic between the intersections with Andries Pretorius Street and Main Road. Road users are advised to please make use of alternative routes along Victoria Street or Hunters Lane, and to adhere to the signage on site.
