UJ students to have safer strolls thanks to landmark skywalk

Pedestrians and drivers who frequently use the intersection of Kingsway Avenue and Beyers Naudé Drive in Melville will attest to the fact that it is difficult for cars and dangerous for pedestrians to navigate. With this in mind, the City of Joburg has appointed the Johannesburg Development Agency (JDA) to design and implement a solution to improve pedestrian mobility.

“There is a lot of pedestrian and vehicular conflict,” says Siyabonga Genu, development manager, JDA. “We have counted more than 4,000 students crossing that intersection at peak hour.”

He adds that the intersection is designed with slip lanes at each of the four legs, meaning those vehicles do not have to wait. This makes it difficult for pedestrians to cross, and the slipways can’t be removed because they are designed to make the intersection function optimally.

To solve the problem, the JDA contracted WSP Consulting Engineers, who designed a circular “skywalk” that will elevate pedestrian traffic above the intersection. “It doesn’t just solve the pedestrian and vehicular conflict, but will become a landmark in its own right,” says Genu.

The bridge, which has the working name of The Hub, has been designed, but it has not yet been determined whether it will be steel or concrete. The plans have been made available for public comment until early next year, but Genu says that the JDA is convinced of the need for the bridge.

“We also considered taking the walkway underground, but this poses security risks and might attract homeless people looking for shelter, so we are confident this is the best and most practical solution.”

Once the final specifications are established, construction on the bridge will begin in May or June of 2016, and should take 10 to 12 months to complete, depending on the materials used. Genu says that while the budget has not yet been set, from his experience with the development of similar constructions, he estimates it will cost around R8m.

This article was originally published in Sunday Times Neighbourhood: Property & lifestyle guides. Visit yourneighbourhood.co.za, like YourNeighbourhoodZA on Facebook and follow YourHoodZA on Twitter.