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The pedestrian bridge will be constructed south of the R300 and west of AZ Berman Drive in Mitchells Plain. The closest formal streets are Moses Kottler Crescent and Portulaca Street, with many informal footpaths leading to the area where pedestrians are crossing the railway tracks on a daily basis.

‘Hundreds of pedestrians are using this point as a shortcut to get to and from the areas on the other side of the railway tracks. It is extremely dangerous to do so and this is why the City intends to build a pedestrian bridge that will be universally accessible, with good overhead lighting and CCTV cameras to improve the general safety in the area,’ said the City’s Mayoral ommittee Member for Transport, Alderman Felicity Purchase.

Residents and interested and affected parties are encouraged to comment on the proposal during the upcoming public participation process that will start on 29 March 2021. The closing date for input and comments is 29 April 2021.

Furthermore, the City will host an open day at the Lentegeur Council Chambers on Wednesday, 7 April 2021, from 14:00 to 18:00. Covid-19 health and safety protocols will apply and all attendees are reminded to please wear masks covering their nose and mouth, practice social distancing, and to sanitise or wash their hands.

Maps, illustrations, and an artist impression of the pedestrian bridge will be available at the open day, and officials from the Transport Directorate will be present to answer questions.

‘I encourage residents to make use of the commenting period. The open day is an ideal opportunity to see what the pedestrian bridge will look like, and to ask burning questions, or raise concerns. We need and value your input and will take this into consideration in finalising the design and layout of the pedestrian bridge,’ said Alderman Purchase.

Important points about the proposed pedestrian bridge:

• the intention is to create a safe and universally accessible pathway for pedestrians to cross the railway tracks at this point
• the bridge will be constructed with robust materials that are vandal-resistant and difficult to remove
• the bridge will be located in the vicinity of existing informal footpaths, where there is pedestrian movement
• concrete walls, parallel to the railway track on either side of the rail line, will be installed by Prasa to ensure pedestrians use the overhead bridge
• the stairways and footpaths leading to the bridge will be well-lit to improve visibility at night
• CCTV cameras will be installed to monitor the area and improve safety

‘The local community will benefit immensely from the pedestrian bridge. It will provide them with a safe and convenient pathway to cross the railway line, and given that it will be universally accessible, people in wheelchairs will be able to use it, the frail, and cyclists. The overhead lighting and CCTV cameras will also assist with crime prevention and improving the personal safety of those using the bridge at night,’ said Alderman Purchase.

The construction tender will be advertised by the end of this year, and construction should commence in November 2022, if all goes as planned.

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