Vincent Tshabalala Pedestrian Bridge

Alexandra, Gauteng Province, South Africa

BACKGROUND

In 2006, the City of Johannesburg developed a growth and development strategy (GDS) to align the city’s long-term vision with the short-term Integrated Development Planning process.

The Joburg 2040 GDS is an ambitious strategy that defines the type of society the city aspires to achieve in 2040. The strategy reaffirms the city’s commitment to address inequalities created by past government systems. One of the key outcomes of the city’s GDS 2040 is to provide a resilient, liveable and sustainable urban environment underpinned by infrastructure supportive of low-carbon economy.

The concept of liveability relates to how an urban system can contribute to the physical, social and mental well-being and personal development of all its inhabitants. This could be achieved through the development of desirable spaces that encourage and foster a sense of community.

The urban street system is the most prevalent communal space and has an important role in creating a liveable city. The GDS 2040 encourages the development of a street system that supports not only the movement of public and private transport vehicles, but identifies as key priority the need for citizens from all user groups to access the public transport system safely and conveniently.

CORRIDORS OF FREEDOM

In the 2013-2014 financial year, the Corridors of Freedom was announced by the executive mayor as the priority city development strategy to transform the space to make Johannesburg more equitable, sustainable and liveable. In the 2013-2014, 2014-2015 and 2015-2016 financial years, the Department of Development Planning had an allocation of R250 million per year for the capital works projects in the Corridors of Freedom. Subsequent to the approval of the Corridors of Freedom and its budget allocation, the Department of Development Planning commissioned a study that looked at developing a strategic area framework.

Transportation was included in this study and an important component was the public transport infrastructure. The bus rapid transit (BRT) forms part of this network.

As part of improving the level of service to communities served by the city’s BRT known as Rea Vaya, the Department of Transport and the Johannesburg Development Agency (JDA) planned to construct non-motorised transport (NMT) infrastructure to link all Rea Vaya trunk route stations with community facilities such as:

  • universities
  • schools
  • clinics
  • magistrates’ courts
  • police stations
  • taxi ranks
  • major shopping areas
  • people’s centres
  • government buildings.

NMT facilities will also be required where there are high volumes of passenger movements from residential areas to Rea Vaya stations and feeder routes. Vincent Tshabalala Road, formerly London Road, in Alexandra was identified as a priority feeder route to the BRT that required NMT interventions. As part of an NMT investigation conducted by Triakon Engineering, a number of positions for pedestrian bridges were identified.

SERVICES RENDERED

The city’s main purpose with the design and implementation of this pedestrian bridge was to:

  • Improve connectivity within the township by providing safe crossing for pedestrians to access employment, education and recreational facilities.
  • Reduce poverty by providing targeted interventions to support access to income opportunity and affordable transport for the poor.

The final position of the Vincent Tshabalala pedestrian bridge had to be determined by the appointed consultants informed by the NMT Study conducted by Triakon Engineering as well as site investigations and traffic and pedestrian counts.

CLIENT NAME: Johannesburg Development Agency

LOCATION: Alexandra, Gauteng Province,  South Africa

PROJECT DURATION: 24 Months

START DATE: April 2016

END DATE: April 2018

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