By Bianca Capazorio

For the first time in the history of Nelson Mandela Bay, major investment across all forms of transport infrastructure will take place in preparation for 2010.

“At no other time has government invested so much in the infrastructure of our city,” deputy mayor Bicks Ndoni said during the transport summit held in the city on Friday.

Ndoni said investments were being made in airports, rail and roads, as well as Mandela Bay‘s planned rapid bus transit system, which should start operating by the end of 2008.

To highlight this point, Roads and Transport MEC Thobile Mhlahlo highlighted the projects under way and those still in the planning stage.

Among these is the Kei Rail project, undergoing line testing, which should be operational by the end of the year.

Mhlahlo said 20 coaches had been leased from Shosholoza Meyl and 33 diesel locomotives acquired.

A further R10-million has been allocated for upgrading the narrow-gauge line between Port Elizabeth and Avontuur. Mhlahlo said this should be operational by 2008. It would go a long way to promoting tourism.

The upgrade to the Bhisho airport was almost complete, with R68-million of the R100-million budget already spent. The upgrade is expected to be completed by March 2008.

Mhlahlo highlighted the need for the capacity at East London airport to be extended. It is now only able to process 700 000 passengers a year.

“East London airport grew by 16,7% on average, reaching a total passenger volume of 698 000 for the year,” he said. Port Elizabeth airport, he said, grew by 10,8% to 1,4 million passengers last year. The airport has a capacity of two million passengers.

Mhlahlo said his transmec committee, made up of various officials, would convene its first meeting on October 23. The rapid bus transit system and the 2010 transport operational plan would be discussed.

“Our main intention is to ensure that by January 2008, we start the implementation of the provincial 2010 public transport operational plan which links air, road, rail, maritime, taxi and bus operations”.

Giving an update on Mandela Bay‘s bus system, official Greg Pryce-Lewis said a delegation had recently been sent to Colombia, where operational systems similar to that planned for the city had been observed.

A smaller system with single lanes and smaller stations seen in the town of Pereira had been identified as suitable for Mandela Bay, Pryce-Lewis said. Designs were being refocused to create a similar system.

It was reported that funding had not yet been approved for roads such as the one to Alicedale, the R72 from East London to Port Elizabeth, the Addo-Kirkwood and Addo-Paterson roads, and the N2 to Coffee Bay.

The Herald