underway
24 July 2007
Construction of the Gautrain Park Station is currently well underway. With
much of the preparatory work complete, engineers are focusing on the challenge
of ensuring smooth traffic flow during intensive construction activities. In
the recent months Gautrain announced its intention to divert traffic travelling
through Smit Street to Wolmarans Street and the temporary closure of Smit
Street. This allowed the Bombela construction team to commence with site
establishment and full-on construction of the first phase of the station box in
a cut and cover structure.
The cut and cover method allows engineers to dig a large rectangular station
box approximately 25 meters into the ground. Once this has been achieved the
box will be hollowed out and sealed at the top with a concrete slab. Traffic
flow will be restored while construction continues beneath. Extensive
geotechnical investigations have taken place and have yielded evidence of rock
that will affect the tunnelling activities towards Rosebank. The hard rock
section from Park Station will be excavated by making use of conventional drill
and blast techniques.
The actual blasting exercise will not last longer than 30 seconds and will
be monitored to ensure that vibrations remain within acceptable levels and to
ensure that no blast vibration damage will be caused to the surrounding
buildings and structures. The first phase of the construction process has been
completed and Smit Street will soon be restored to its original traffic flow
with temporary upgrades.
Phase two will be implemented on 29 July and traffic will once again be
diverted, this time in the reverse order where Wolmarans Street will be
temporarily closed between Hoek and Eloff Streets. Construction of an
additional lane will take place, converting Smit Street into a dual carriage
way up to Harrison Street. Thereafter Smit Street will continue as a single
carriageway. Motorists are therefore encouraged to continue to use the route
but to drive with caution and familiarise themselves with the new
diversion.
New traffic flow:
Travelling on Wolmarans Street
Traffic travelling towards Braamfontein on Wolmarans Street will be diverted
right into Hoek Street, left into Smit Street and then will proceed on Smit
Street towards the Rissik Street and Smit Street intersection. Smit Street will
be slightly curved between Hoek Street and Joubert Street.
Travelling on Smit Street
Traffic travelling on Smit Street towards the east from the Rissik
Street and Smit Street intersection will continue down Smit Street. After
crossing Joubert Street, traffic travelling towards the east will drive through
a slight curve towards the Sutherland Street/Smit Street intersection. Traffic
will then continue westwards on Smit Street.
Vehicles accessing or leaving African Life Building on 222 Smit Street
Gautrain will continue to maintain access points to tenants in buildings on
Joubert Street by allowing a single access lane from the Rissik Street and
Wolmarans Street intersection to Joubert Street (via Wolmarans Street). This
access lane is intended only for the users for African Life Building. Traffic
leaving the building will then exit by accessing Smit Street (via Joubert
Street).
Vehicles accessing or leaving Umjantshi House:
Vehicles intending to access Umjantshi House will be able to do so by
proceeding eastwards on Wolmarans Street towards the Eloff Street and Wolmarans
Street intersection where they will drive into the entrance to Umjantshi House.
When exiting Umjantshi House, vehicles will proceed towards the Hoek Street and
Wolmarans Street intersection and then turn left into Hoek Street and left into
Smit Street.
Gautrain apologises for the inconvenience caused during this exercise. We
assure you that the current traffic diversion plans were approved by the
Johannesburg Road Agency. Monitoring and evaluation of traffic flows will be
done after a reasonable time has passed and traffic has been allowed to adjust
to the new road diversions.
For more information visit our website on http://www.gautrain.co.za or call us on our
toll free number 0800 Gautrain (0800 428 87246)
For more information contact:
Yolisa Tyantsi
Cell: 082 389 2443
Issued by: Gauteng Provincial Government
24 July 2007
Source: SAPA
