Helping to get more people into and around Sandton Central with accessible and eco-friendly public transport, the City of Joburg’s fast, convenient and affordable Rea Vaya bus service is back on track to launch in South Africa’s vibrant commercial capital.
After the Covid-19 pandemic delayed the project, construction of the final Rea Vaya station in the Phase 1C route will commence on Monday, 17 October 2022. The second station of two in Sandton Central will be built on Rivonia Road, between Katherine Street/Sandton Drive and Fifth Street, in an 18-month project.
Throughout the entire construction process, Rivonia Road will remain open to pedestrians and vehicles, and all businesses on this stretch of street will remain accessible, including Sandton City’s Protea Court pedestrian and vehicle entrances. However, there will be some traffic restrictions and disruptions.
The first phase of the project is particularly complex. For the road to be widened, all underground cables and services must be removed and reinstalled in new locations and new sleeves by their respective owners. This time-consuming process requires extensive coordination.
The initial phase of work is expected to take eight months, during which two lanes of Rivonia Road in either direction will remain open. The area will be hoarded to keep pedestrians safe, and all pedestrian crossings will remain accessible and available.
Elaine Jack, City Improvement District Manager of the Sandton Central Management District, which manages the neighbourhood’s public urban spaces, says: “As the country’s financial hub, every day Sandton Central attracts many people for business, tourism, shopping and pleasure. While there will be some short-term disruption to traffic, people from around the city and beyond will benefit from this new, convenient form of transport in Sandton Central.”
She adds, “The new Rivonia Road station is the final element of the many infrastructure improvements already made to roads, pavements and public transport to support the Rea Vaya service in Sandton Central. We are excited about the station and the future commissioning of the C1 route. Projects like this help Sandton Central remain at the forefront of well-managed central business districts.”
Started in 2009, Rea Vaya already operates between areas such as Parktown, Doornfontein and Soweto. In 2024, Sandton Central will join this popular service designed to better link areas around the city, making it more inclusive and accessible.
Sandton Central is a key destination in Phase 1C of Rea Vaya, which began construction in 2014. Phase C extends Rea Vaya’s route from Joburg’s Park Station to Parktown, Orange Grove, Wynberg, Alexandra and on to the Sandton Central stations in Katherine Street and Rivonia Road.
The Rea Vaya project has already contributed improvements to the infrastructure in Sandton Central -- new bridges, widened main roads, upgraded pavements and signage, improved street lights and signals, and cycling and walking facilities.
It has already significantly enhanced accessibility in Sandton Central, adding two new bridges across the M1 Highway - one for BRT buses and pedestrians, the other for cyclists and pedestrians.
The project also widened the Sandspruit Bridge - the gateway to Sandton Central on Katherine Street, between Marlboro and Grayston Drives. The bridge was rebuilt and expanded from two to six lanes, relieving traffic bottlenecks. Its two centre lanes are reserved for Rea Vaya busses.
The new Rea Vaya infrastructure also features 30.5km of walking and cycling paths and a dedicated cycle and walking path from Alexandra to Sandton.
When the bus route is commissioned, it will boost all existing transport modes and further improve traffic flows. The Rivonia Road Rea Vaya station is just one block from the Sandton Gautrain Station, creating a new integrated transport system that complements and links with modes of transport already in place, such as Metrobus, minibus and metered taxis, as well as walking and cycling.
Jack points out that the initiative will create a greater public transport culture in Sandton. “It is a more affordable and environmentally friendly way of getting around. Because the Rea Vaya enjoys priority lanes, it is also a faster way to travel. These rapid bus transport services are a standard feature of leading cities worldwide. For Sandton Central, it ensures that South Africa’s financial hub continues to be well positioned to attract business, investment, shoppers, tourists, workforces and residents, with its availability of easy, sustainable, and affordable personal transport.”
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NOTE TO EDITORS:
Joburg Pride, which will take place in Sandton Central on the weekend of 29 and 30 October 2022, will continue uninterrupted and will not be affected by the Rea Vaya roadworks.
