The Civil Engineering Contractor January 2019 | Page 10

CONSULTANTS
Trans-Kalahari Railway Line
Project: Rail, infrastructure
Client: Governments of Botswana and Namibia
The R100-billion project proposes to construct a
1 500km-long rail line connecting Botswana’s Mmamabula
coalfield to the Port of Walvis Bay, in Namibia, with a
possible connection to South Africa’s Waterberg coalfield. It
aims to provide an alternative coal transport route to Walvis
Bay instead of Richards Bay Coal Terminal (RBCT) and will
have the advantage of reaching overseas markets a week
earlier than exports from RBCT.
The Namibian and Botswana governments are still in the
planning stages of how best to implement the project, but
have agreed to remodel the Trans-Kalahari Railway Line
project from its sole reliance on the transportation of coal
to being a multisectoral project designed to unlock the
potential of other economic sectors along the corridor.
The project had to be remodelled in 2015 as coal prices
slumped and ruined the viability of the single-commodity
railway corridor business model. The two countries have
signed the project management agreement, and identified
and refurbished buildings to house the project. Botswana
Tswalu
Location: Trans-Kalahari
The R100-billion Trans-Kalahari project proposes to construct a
1 500km-long rail line connecting Botswana and Namibia.
has approved all policy manuals for the project and is now
waiting for Namibia to do the same. A feasibility project for
the economic corridor is yet to be concluded. nn
approximately 9.3km, in Gauteng. The scope of works
includes road pavement assessments, rehabilitation design,
contract documentation, and site supervision of roads
P122/1 and will be known as Project A. CIDB 9CE.
The project will open up the area for a new 100 000m²
Project:
Road, infrastructure
nodal development located in the east of the city at a cost
Client:
City of Tshwane
of R2.2-billion. The East Capital, as it is known, has been
Location: Gauteng
envisioned as a self-sufficient live, learn, grow, work and
play eco-friendly suburban precinct. The so-called ‘full
Plans are afoot for the construction from September 2018
circle living’ lifestyle to be offered by the 950ha mega
onwards of Road P122/1 (R57) Phase 2 from 8.4km
city (the planning of which started in 2006) is becoming
to P36-1 (R10) (Solomon Mahlangu Drive), which is
increasingly sought-after, developers say.
The lifestyle includes shops, offices, and
much more, right at the doorstep, thereby
eliminating the need to spend hours
commuting each day.
The new city will be accessed from the
N4 through a new R90-million road — the
PWV17 — which will link the N4 and the
R21. The infrastructure funding has been
approved for the planned road upgrade for
the N4 to link to Graham Road directly. The
interchange will be situated between the
Solomon Mahlangu and Boschkop off-ramps
and forms part of the PWV17.
Construction of the first phase of the
road, known as Hazeldean Boulevard, is
planned to begin towards the end of this
year, subject to municipal environmental
The Solly Mahlangu Drive Interchange upgrade will open up new residential and
commercial developments.
approvals. nn
Solomon Mahlangu Drive
Interchange
8 | CEC January 2019
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