The newly paved one-way lane in Govan Mbeki Avenue between the Market Square and Donkin Street was officially opened to traffic on Tuesday, although the entire project will only be completed at the end of May.

This is part of the upgrading of the street to turn it into a pedestrian mall. The upgrading will also see the creation of wider and clearly lit side streets, the installation of public benches and the erection of canopies and tables with lock-up cupboards for informal traders to store their wares.

Other traffic will be diverted along Chapel Street in the interim until the new section is fully operational. Mandela Bay Development Agency planning consultant Jonathan Mercer said on Tuesday that service and delivery vehicles had been directed on to the new road and would now move in a one-way direction.

"This is part of the permanent solution with regard to the new pedestrian-dominated area," said Mercer, adding that construction had already started on the next phase.

"The seaside lane, which was being used by vehicles before Tuesday, will now be converted into a paved pedestrian area, using red bricks and cobblestones.

"Both sides of the street will be fitted with lighting, canopies, kiosks and street furniture, with indigenous trees introduced. This process is expected to be completed by June," he said.

The MBDA said once the upgrade was complete, the pavements would be much wider and the side streets, linking the mall to the Grace Street parking garage and other parking areas, would be well sign-posted and lit up to make it easy for pedestrians to gain access to their vehicles.

"Logistically we had to construct the road first so that traffic could be moved off the section that will now be converted into a pedestrian-only area," Mercer said.

"The new mall is set to be a very impressive landmark in the central business district."

Eastern Province Herald

 
 
Publisher: I-Net Bridge
Source: I-Net Bridge