Delays in CT transport projects

2009-12-08 19:30

Michael Hamlyn

Cape Town - A Parliamentary written reply given by Transport Minister Sbu Ndebele to Don Gumede of the ANC shows that the transport network being prepared for the Soccer World Cup in Cape Town is a long way from being ready for the event.

According to the reply circulated on Tuesday, bus-based park and ride facilities which were supposed to have been competed in October this year are still only 43% complete.

A city-wide non-motorised transport plan involving a number of upgrades to the pedestrian and bicycle network in the CBD and the Somerset Road areas was supposed to have been finished in August. The project is currently 28% completed.

A project aimed at keeping pedestrians separated from the traffic on the Western Boulevard had a planned completion date of October. It is currently 71% completed.

Pedestrian improvements worth R55m at Green Point stadium have only been 59% completed although the planned completion date was November this year.

An integrated fare management system which was to be one of the key components of the public transport improvement programme for the province is currently standing at 15% completeness with a planned completion date of 30 October 2009. 

A non-motorised transport bridge to Bhunga Avenue over the N2, as well as NMT links between Langa and the Klipfontein Corridor/Athlone Stadium were planned for completion on 15 October. The project is only 74% complete.

The city has embarked on intelligent transport management system (ITS) to improve network operations on a city-wide basis. The planned completion date was 31 January 2009, but the project is currently only 32% completed. 

It was allocated an amount of R78m. Another project that involved the provision of ITS and CCV facilities currently stands at 98% though it was planned to be completed on 30 August.

Other cities are also having problems, but many of the projects in Gauteng are pretty much on time and 100% complete.

- I-Net Bridge (News24)