The Johannesburg Development Agency (JDA) has started with the Rivonia-Katherine Corridor road strengthening project, in Sandton.

The project forms a vital component of the city’s Rea Vaya Phase 1C infrastructure rollout.

The JDA will upgrade the existing 1.7 km of road between Rivonia road and Pretoria avenue to accommodate bus traffic and ensure long-term durability of the route, including through improved roadside drainage and sidewalks.

The JDA is also building two Rea Vaya bus stations in Sandton to pave the way for commissioning the entire Phase 1C system.

The agency has requested that road users and pedestrians be extra cautious in the area for traffic impacts from January 27 until the end of the year.

“The Rivonia-Katherine Corridor road strengthening project is a cornerstone of our efforts to deliver safe, reliable and accessible public transport solutions. It reflects our commitment to improving urban infrastructure while creating job opportunities and enhancing the urban environment,” says JDA CEO Themba Mathiba.

REA VAYA

The City of Johannesburg has been planning, designing and implementing the bus rapid transit (BRT) corridor for Phase 1C to bring safer, and more affordable and reliable public transport to the areas of central Johannesburg, Hillbrow, Bellevue, Yeoville, Orange Grove, Cheltondale, Highlands North, Balfour Park, Gresswold, Bramley, Wynberg, Alexandra, Marlboro, Athol, Sandton, Sandown, Longmeadow and Greenstone.

Of the 12 stations planned for the BRT Phase 1C master plan, ten have reached practical completion and are ready for operational use.

The final two stations, in Sandton, will enable the commissioning of the entire Phase 1C system.

Three key bridges – the Rea Vaya bus and pedestrian bridge located along Lees street, in Marlboro; a dedicated cycling and walking bridge on Grayston drive; and a heritage bridge in the Berea area, close to the old Herbert Baker bus station – have been built and are ready for the operations of Rea Vaya Phase 1C buses.

The route will have 141 low-entry buses, an interchange by Pan Africa connecting Rea Vaya with other modes of public transport and two depots – one in Alexandra where buses will be parked and maintained and another in Selby.

The project was phased according to budget availability, beginning with the construction of a blueprint station on Katherine street, which set the groundwork for the rest of the infrastructure works in Sandton.