A contractor has been appointed for the Lilian Ngoyi Street rehabilitation and construction has officially begun, following the gas explosion in Bree street on July 19, the City of Johannesburg reports.

The rehabilitation project is being managed by the Johannesburg Roads Agency (JRA) through a seven-stage project management process.

The construction period spans from January 11 to December 15, with stringent oversight by the JRA to ensure adherence to timelines, the City emphasises.

The construction phase focuses on road redevelopment, service infrastructure and associated amenities.

The planning and design stages, initiated on August 22, concluded on November 20, encompassing steps such as identifying impacted services, allocating budgets, and appointing a professional services provider.

The City says it is investing R196-million in professional fees and construction costs to cover roadworks, stormwater and services infrastructure, electrical, mechanical and structural works.

Simultaneously, the City has submitted a disaster declaration application, seeking funding for the rehabilitation work. Despite the finalisation process with the province being ongoing, the City says it recognises the urgency and has reallocated its budget to expedite rehabilitation efforts.

“As part of our commitment to safety, we are actively assessing other service tunnels throughout the city to prevent future incidents. Designs for their upgrades are expected to be finalised in June 2024, with actual upgrades scheduled for the 2024/2025 financial year,” the City asserts.

Since the gas explosion in Bree street on July 19, 2023, the City says it has committed to providing regular updates on the progress of the rehabilitation project.

Since the incident, the technical team, in collaboration with city officials, has been working to secure, recover and restore Lilian Ngoyi street, the City emphasises.