Users of MyCiti buses will be happy to know the City will be commencing the installation of new roofing and glass panels to cover the exposed walkways at the MyCiTi stations in Atlantic and Table View to make them more secure and accommodating.
The work is scheduled to start on February 18 2019 and will take place during the evenings outside of MyCiTi operating hours.
Currently the walkways connecting the three commuter platforms at the MyCiTi station in Atlantis and the two platforms at the station in Table View are exposed.
“These two stations are extremely busy, and count among the most popular along the MyCiTi network. Given that the walkways are exposed, commuters and school children aren’t sheltered from the sun, wind and rain while they’re waiting for buses. Schools in these areas and local residents had requested the City to consider improvements to the design to make the stations more commuter-friendly. Given that the stations have been operational for a few years already, we’ve decided to undertake this much-needed upgrade by installing roofing over the walkways, as well as glass panels on the side where our winter rain normally comes from,” says the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Transport, Alderman Felicity Purchase.
Both projects will be undertaken simultaneously and will cost the City approximately R11 million in total. Up to R6 million is budgeted for the work at the station in Reygersdal Drive in Atlantis, and about R5 million for the station in Blaauwberg Road in Table View.
“The purpose of the projects is to make our public transport system more convenient and safer to use. The tricky part, however, is that the work will have to take place without disruptions to the MyCiTi service. This means that the contractor can only work between 11pm and 5am when the buses aren’t operating. Luckily the stations aren’t located in residential areas, but if your business is open after hours you may be affected. Also, it’s possible that the noise coming from the sites will be audible to residents on some evenings, depending on the wind direction,” says Alderman Purchase.
With no delays the project is expected to be completed in six months. Part of the project includes the relocation of 11 Port Jackson fig trees to make space for the roofing; the City plans to replant these trees at other MyCiTi stations.
“The contractor will do the majority of the work off-site, such as the welding of the steel and so forth. Still, there will be some inconvenience and, in particular, once they’ve started with the installation of the roofing and glass panels. I’m asking commuters and residents to please be patient. Once completed, the roof and panels will make a huge difference to commuters’ travelling experience,” says Alderman Purchase.
Commuters can contact the Transport Information Centre 24/7 on 0800 65 64 63.
Picture: Unsplash
