City to start massive work on Watt Interchange construction in Alex
JOBURG – The City of Johannesburg is set to start work on the Watt Street Interchange in Wynberg next to Alexandra.
The Joburg Development Agency (JDA), the City of Johannesburg’s infrastructure development entity, is set to undertake a massive R260 million construction of the Watt Interchange in April.
This forms part of the Rea Vaya Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system from Arkwright Avenue to Chadwick Avenue along Old Pretoria Road in Wynberg next to Alexandra.
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Watt Interchange is part of the BRT system, Phase 1C, which includes the Section 8 route from Sandton to Alexandra along Rivonia Road and Katherine Street, and the Section 15 route from Parktown in Johannesburg to Alexandra along Louis Botha Avenue.
The scope of work includes demolishing the existing bridge and the interchange at Watt Street, and the construction of the new east-west link from Rautenbach Avenue to Watt Street. It will also include a new intersection on Pretoria Main Road, the construction of new BRT lanes and ‘underground’ station below the new intersection.
Agency CEO Christo Botes said construction was expected to end in June 2019, and expressed confidence that the residents of Arkwright Avenue to Chadwick Avenue along the Old Pretoria Road and adjacent areas would have a safer commuting environment.
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“Although residents might be temporarily inconvenienced during construction, they will experience less congestion… The JDA will keep on implementing projects that connect people with opportunities to live, work, play, learn and provide an overall improvement in their quality of life.”
