June 2013
CONSTRUCTION WORLD
46
roads & bridges
THE VELAVKE-UWP-PHATWE
JV comprises
UWP Consulting, VelaVKE Consulting En-
gineers (now part of the SMEC Group) and
Phatwe Consulting Engineers, a 100% black
owned company based in Rustenburg.
This project forms part of the national
Public Transport Action Plan to improve
public transport networks in 12 cities in South
Africa. It aims to provide a high quality and
affordable public transport system that will
enhance the social and economic develop-
ment of Rustenburg.
The development and construction of
the RRT was planned to take place from
2011 to 2015, with implementation of the
public transport services envisaged by
2015, explains UWP Consulting director
Friedrich Slabbert.
The tender awarded to the VelaVKE-
UWP-Phatwe JV incorporates two bus rapid
transport (BRT) corridors over a distance of
34 km that overlap in the Rustenburg CBD,
with 37 proposed stations.
“We completed detail design for a fast
track section between the Rustenburg CBD
and Phokeng Town of the Royal Bafokeng
in a very short time and the 16-month con-
struction contract was awarded toMCivils on
18 June 2012,”says Slabbert.
“From appointment to construction
award, the VelaVKE-UWP-Phatwe team com-
pleted all planning and inception through
award processes within eight months for a
project with a total value of R392-million.
“Planning and design of the remain-
ing sections of the contract, involving the
Rustenburg CBD and Phokeng town, have
commenced and tenders will be called for
this year.”
What the RRT will look like
Most of the route will have a dedicated bus
lane in each directionwith an additional pass-
ing lane at the stations. Along the regional
routes outside the CBD, the road will consist
of a dedicated bus lane and one to twomixed
traffic lanes per direction with paved shoul-
ders and non-motorised transport facilities.
In the CBD, two existing lanes will be dedi-
cated to the BRT.
All the intersections will be upgraded,
either to a left in/left out access or to a full
intersection with BRT traffic signals and
turning lanes.
Unique video technology is being used in
the planning, design and constructionphases
to assist with accurate on-site details.
This allows detail planning and design
sessions to be held off-site with all role play-
ers present. Thirty per cent of the contract
value is being spent with local contractors
and materials suppliers.
Rustenburg Rapid Transport
project well under way
Work star ted last year on the Rustenburg Rapid Transpor t
(RRT) project in the North West Province following completion of
detail design by the VelaVKE-UWP-Phatwe JV, which won the
tender for planning, design and construction supervision of the
R640-million construction project.
Public transport is closely linked to the future
spatial development of Rustenburg, which
aims to:
• integrate the existing urban structure;
• provide a greater housing typology mix;
• provide social amenities in an equitable
manner;
• protect commercial agriculture and
natural open spaces;
• enable the cost-effective provision of
bulk municipal services;
• rationalise transportation infrastructure
and services provision, specifically
public transportation; and
• capitalise on the economic
competitive advantages in the
region, such as mining.
Bus Rapid Transport (BRT)
The Department of Transport has made it
clear that BRT is crucial to the success of South
Africa's transport system. BRT is a mass road-
based public transport system that mimics
rail systems.The aim is to provide a high qual-
ity, customer oriented transport system that
delivers fast, comfortable, and lowcost urban
mobility to public transport users.
Through improvements to infrastructure,
vehicles and scheduling, a BRT
system uses buses to provide a
service that is of a higher quality
than an ordinary bus line. The
BRT will play a leading role in
transforming public transport
within Rustenburg to a point
where it will become the pre-
ferred mode of travel for most
and make a major contribution
towards the more efficient
development of Rustenburg
as a whole.
The public transport priority
measures to be implemented
will reduce travel times, with
an enormous economic impact.
Immediately after comple-
tion of the construction work,
journey times for all road
users will reduce, saving on
vehicle operating costs and
time in vehicles.
●
UWP Consulting director, Friedrich Slabbert.
