Polokwane’s R30-million nonmotor-ised transport (NMT) system project, in Limpopo, which runs along Nelson Mandela drive, from the central business district (CBD) to Seshego township, is in the first phase of construction, says international consulting engineering company Royal HaskoningDHV service line head for intelligent transport systems and traffic engineering Ivan Reutener.

The first phase began in May and will take six months to complete. It involves the construction of a 4-km-long walkway, which will be 5 m wide and allow for bidirectional travel on the 2.5-m-wide pedestrian walkway and on the 2.5-m-wide cycling path, explains Reutener, adding that the path will also be wide enough for people on wheelchairs to pass each other.

He explains that the pedestrian and cycling paths had to be separated for safety reasons. “A bicycle travels faster than a pedestrian, but it is also quieter than a vehicle, which means that pedestrians will not be able to hear or see a bicycle when it is approaching him/her from behind; they could, therefore, collide.

Reutener explains that a section of the NMT pedestrian path will incorporate an existing path into its design, owing to space constraints.

“The cycle and pedestrian paths will be distinguishable by a nonmountable kerb between them.

The NMT system has to cross the Sand river, which presented a challenge, as the bridges over the river were designed for vehicles. To allow for continuity of the NMT, steel structures had to be built on the side of the Nelson Mandela drive bridge.

Paving blocks were used for this project instead of asphalt although the Cape Town NMT used asphalt because construction is faster, says Reutener. However, asphalt needs to have con- stant traffic, otherwise it will start cracking, and, for this reason, mainte-nance on asphalt roads is higher than for paving blocks, he explains.

“The City of Polokwane opted for paving blocks to reduce maintenance on the NMT and because it was possible to involve the community in paving blocks construction. “It is estimated that 30 locals will be employed on this first phase of the project,” Reutener continues.

The second and final phase will extend the NMT another 8 km to 12 km, as soon as funding has been secured.

He says that the installation of intel-ligent streetlighting with day/night sen- sors will take place during the second phase of the project. “When the streetlights switch on, they will operate at only 30% of their luminous capacity. “Once a pedestrian or cyclist uses the facility and passes a specific light, it will use 100% of its luminous capacity,” Reutener explains.

This will also mean that pedestrians and cyclists using the NMT will be aware of other people on the path because of the changing lighting levels.

Rest benches, trees for shade and water fountains will be added during phase two.

Reutener notes that R8-million of Phase 1’s total cost will be used for construction, while professional services and surveys will cost R2-million. Construction is being funded by German government-owned German Development Bank, while the City of Polokwane is funding the professional services and surveys.

The Polokwane NMT is part of the Department of Environmental Affairs’ driven green city initiative. The German Development Bank will fund two additional NMT projects in eThekwini and Johannesburg, he points out.