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Concern over Oxford Rd
10/07/2008 18:13 - (SA)
Johannesburg - The Democratic Alliance was concerned on Thursday about how weak spots such as Oxford Road could handle the weight of the City of Johannesburg's new bus rapid transit system (BRT).
"A question that will be put most certainly to the BRT team is whether proper studies have been done from the city side along these routes on the strength of the existing paved way to handle the new bus system," said DA transport spokesperson Nico de Jager in a statement.
The BRT, a planned 2010 legacy project, would run along Oxford Road. It was meant to be operational by April 2009.
"I do not believe the city can go ahead in implementing this portion of the BRT route without conducting and revisiting studies in the light of the collapsed roadway," said De Jager.
Part of Oxford Road in Johannesburg collapsed on Tuesday during drilling operations for the Gautrain rail project.
BRT safety aspects
De Jager said it was a miracle that nobody was hurt in this "unfortunate" accident, adding that his party was relieved to learn that more studies would be done on cracks along the route which might have been caused by the collapse.
He asked whether the Gautrain project might weaken the resistance of the existing road service.
"If yes, to what degree and what impact will that have on safety aspects of the BRT - taken into account the mass weight of these buses.
"How (will) the weight of buses, simulating trains running along this road at peak-hour intervals (of less than two minutes), have an impact on the already weakened road surface?" said De Jager.
- SAPA
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