river had to be diverted and rehabilitated and the landscaping and vegetation reinstated and re-established , while providing public access for the community in keeping with the town planning and environmental recommendations . This reconstruction was done using a unique ‘ Low Flow ’ design and its banks and surrounds were replanted with indigenous plants .
Traffic Solutions The environmental impact assessment recommended the return of the river against the cliff and establishment at the 1:1,000 floodline level . The rehabilitation of the site also included the quarry face .
The resolution of the access to the centre required innovative thinking on the part of the traffic engineers to cope with the expected increase in traffic volumes and the resultant probable congestion . A large traffic circle utilised two freeway bridges . This required the widening of two roads and the construction of a new bridge ,
which accommodated a rotary interchange above the freeway .
In order to solve the incoming traffic from the north , from areas such as Hilton and Howick , a new off-ramp was built giving direct access to Sanctuary Road , which had been widened into a four lane road , as well as the shopping complex . These developments thus opened up three points of access to the centre .
The improved access and the development have resulted in the value of the surrounding land increasing dramatically ; likewise the interest in the area , resulting in the entire area virtually becoming a nodal extension of the CBD . Liberty Midlands Mall is the second-largest capital project in the history of Pietermaritzburg and is expected to kick-start the biggest economic upturn in the city ’ s history . The total cost of the project was approximately R280m and at least 1,000 jobs were created during the construction phase and over 800 permanent positions came on line once the retailers moved into their new premises .
Liberty Midlands Mall 101