Name and Location
GO!Durban project, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.

Client
eThekwini municipality.

Project Description
The project aims to provide a fully integrated rapid public transport network for the people of eThekwini.

The roll-out of the 190 km transport system is based on a comprehensive plan, which outlines a network of nine trunk corridors, supported by feeder and complementary services covering the whole city, with different integrated modes of transport – rail, bus and taxi – to provide seamless, efficient and affordable service.

Phase 1, which will include 62 km of road construction, 45 new and improved bus stations, as well as two terminal stations at Bridge City and Bram Fischer, will comprise three bus rapid transit routes – C1 Bridge City to Durban’s central business district (CBD), C3 Bridge City to Pinetown and C9 Bridge City to Umhlanga corridor. It will also comprise the C2 Bridge City and KwaMashu through Berea road to Umlazi and Isipingo. This network will accommodate about 25% of the municipality’s transport demand on the C1, C3 and C9 routes, with an additional 40% being accommodated on the C2 rail route, as part of the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa’s implementation plans.

Value
Not stated.

Duration
Phase 1 is expected to be completed by 2018.

Latest Developments
The GO!Durban integrated rapid public transport network will continue to progress at a rapid pace this year, according to eThekwini municipality transport authority head Thami Manyathi.

With five major construction tenders totalling R2.2-billion having been awarded in 2014, the focus will now shift to the construction of a temporary traffic management centre (TMC), to be completed this year, to support the C3 corridor operations between Bridge City, in KwaMashu, and Pinetown.

A contract for the construction of the new TMC in the Centrum site will also be awarded this year.

Of the tenders awarded in 2014, R890-million worth of work was awarded to black-owned companies. A further R367-million of the total amount was allocated to enterprise development.

GO!Durban also achieved other major milestones in 2014, including the signing of a memorandum of agreement with the leadership of the minibus taxi industry, the unveiling of the project’s empowerment charter, the launch of the city’s nonmotorised transport network – including sidewalks, offroad paths, safe crossings, pedestrian bridges and cycle areas – the consolidation of the cashless Muvo smartcard system, engagements with community stakeholders, businesses and eThekwini residents, as well as the launch of a mobile marketing and other key brand awareness events.

Construction of the dedicated lanes for buses has started on various segments of the 24 km C3 corridor, including on a large portion of the provincial MR577 road.

Construction has also started on an underpass that will extend under the M25, or Curnick Ndlovu Highway, connecting the Bridge City precinct to the Phoenix industrial area.

In 2015, work will be advanced on this route, and construction will start on the Bridge City depot and terminal, in KwaMashu, while station construction will also start, with the first one being built in New Germany.

In October, the GO!Durban empowerment charter was launched, which was neither a preferencing policy nor an embellishment of black economic-empowerment regulations, but a series of additional specifications added by the GO!Durban project to all contracts awarded for the project.

This unveiling created an opportunity for various stakeholders to understand the empowerment requirements of the project and how it was set up to support local communities and businesses through a share in the equity, skills development, enterprise development and corporate social investment or socioeconomic development.

Key Contracts and Suppliers
None stated.

On Budget and on Time?
Not stated.

Contact Details for Project Information
eThekwini municipality, tel +27 31 311 1111.