INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT NEARLY COMPLETE FOR WORLD CUP

DORIANNE ARENDSE

With just 29 days to go before the kick off to the 2010 Soccer World Cup, the City of Cape Town said its infrastructure development for the international spectacle is on track. Speaking to VOC News on Wednesday afternoon the Mayoral Committee member for Transport, Roads and Major Projects said the contractors are working around the clock to ensure that all the projects undertaken by the City would be completed on time.

"The contractors are working throughout the night and they think that that is the committee that we have from all our contractors. We can't even say 29 days left because we are aiming to have all work done by the end of May. Our Green Point pedestrian circle has been completed. The last paving has been done and the circle is one of the biggest where pedestrians do not need to compete with cars when crossing the road. Where they get off at the bus station they immediately go under the circle and they then are right onto the station," explained Thompson.

Roads

According to the councilor, the Bhunga Bridge has already being completed and pedestrians are already making use of the new foot bridge. "People are already using the bridge and we will officially launch it next week, but what is amazing about this Bhunga Bridge is that it a major link between Langa and the Athlone stadium and Klipfontein Road. The Athlone stadium will be used as a practice venue and it will allow pedestrians to cross the bridge right onto stadium," she said.

The Transport Management Centre located in Goodwood has also been completed. Currently the last bits of software and hardware are being moved into the centre. The centre will be used to monitor all accidents reported during the World Cup. "It will host the Metro Traffic, Disaster Risk Management and we will also be able to host the IRT operations from there. We will be able to monitor the freeways as well as the operation of the IRT buses with CCTV cameras," explained Thompson.

According to Thompson, the road infrastructure which will be used for the Soccer World Cup has been completed and it is just for the paving to be done. "The last bit of paving and landscaping still needs to be done on the dedicated lane where the bus will be traveling. We will have a service from the Airport into the CBD and from the CBD as far as the stadium and the inner city.

Bus stations

"All our bus stations is being finalized, there are three major bus stations- the one is at the airport, the other one is at Hertzog Boulevard, where the hub of the public transport is in and the other one is the stadium. The Granger Bay station has been completed but that will not be in use for the World Cup," said Thompson.

When asked about the fact that the station deck would not be completed on time, Thompson replied that she did not want to comment too much on that as the construction is being overseen by Intersite. "There is a lot of construction happening in and around the City. So what will happen is that Interstite has got a certain portion of work that they have do.

"Whatever has to be done for the World Cup will be completed. There are projects that are ongoing but if you look at the N7, those projects are not meant for 2010. So whatever infrastructure needs to be done it will be completed but during the World Cup event all construction will be stopped and will only resume once the World Cup is over," the Councillor said.

Fan parks

According to Thompson, the business in and around the areas that had infrastructure development taking place were consulted about the construction that would be taking place through the various ward committees in the area. She said they would then have had ample time to raise their concerns. "We know that there has been engagement with the public through the ward meetings. They were engaged in terms of what would be taking place in around the stadium. By the end of May I would assume that all infrastructures would be completed. The World Cup starts on the 11 June, so we cannot down tools on the 10 June 2010."

When asked about the work around the fan parks, miles and walks, Thompson replied that she was not able to comment on this as it did not fall under her department. "The fan parks is not something that I can talk too, there I think it would be best to talk to our 2010 team. They would be able to give you more information with regards to that. But if we talk about our last mile home, in terms of public transport and pedestrian paving, there have been a number of rail stations that have been identified to be used as park and ride facilities.

In other words you can park your car and take a shuttle to the stadium. Your vehicle would be safe as we will have security around the area. Public transport would be available to take people after the evening matches are played. Metrorail has committed themselves to run a service until 2am in the morning. We are also engaging with the taxi industry to see if they would also extend their operating hours," said Thompson.