Scope Change For The Proposed Warwick Avenue Inbound Flyover

04 October, 2007

Dear Sir

Scope Change For The Proposed Warwick Avenue Inbound Flyover: BETWEEN BOTANICAL GARDENS ROAD AND JOHANNES NKOSI STREET (Formerly ALICE STREET)

REFERENCE NO.: DM/0066/06

This letter serves to notify all Interested and Affected Parties (I&AP’s) and Stakeholders of a scope change to the existing proposal of the Warwick Avenue inbound flyover.

Project Background

 The eThekwini Municipality wishes to construct an elevated flyover to serve as an extension of the Western Freeway on the inbound carriageway.  The proposed development occurs within the Warwick Precinct, bounded by Berea Road in the south, Mansfield/Carlisle in the north, Cross Street in the east and Botanic Gardens Road in the west.

The Warwick Precinct is characterised by high volumes of traffic that cut through the area, adding no value to the area and indeed detracting from its attractiveness. The high levels of traffic create an unsafe environment for residents, pedestrians and commuters alike and are a barrier to redevelopment and growth of the area. In order to address this issue, the eThekwini Municipality is proposing to separate the through traffic from the activities of Warwick Junction through the construction of fly-overs that take all through traffic over the highly congested quadrant of Market, Leopold, Warwick and Johannes Nkosi Street.

The proposed project will link the Western Freeway and Johannes Nkosi Street (terminating just before Russell Street), thus by-passing the highly congested Warwick/Old Dutch and Johannes Nkosi Street. /Market intersections on the inbound carriageway and thereby improving traffic flow through the area in a safe and efficient manner. The proposed design of the link is approximately 1000m long, of which the elevated section is approximately 300m long, and will consist of 3 x lanes (12-15m wide).

Scope Change

After consultation with the various members of the project team it has come to light that the following activities, as per the Environmental Impact Regulations, 2006 promulgated in terms of Section 24(5) NEMA (Act 107, 1998), will need to be included in the scope of this project:

• Activity 1(K): the bulk transportation of sewage and water, including storm water, in pipelines with -

(i) an internal diameter of 0,36 metres or more; or

(ii) a peak throughput of 120 litres per second or more

• Activity 15: The construction of a road that is wider than 4 metres or that has a reserve

 wider than 6 metres, excluding roads that fall within the ambit of another listed activity

 or which are access roads of less than 30 metres long.

Reason for Scope Change

As part of the proposed project the Municipality will have to realign a 450 diameter sewer and a 350 diameter water pipeline. The trench will be 2m deep by 2.5m wide. This activity will need to be undertaken prior to construction of the flyover commencing.

Furthermore four out of five of the lanes coming into town will need to be closed during construction to allow the contractors to build the flyover (this will require building the centre of the bridge first for stability reasons, and then extending outwards on either side). The municipality proposes to detour traffic through Centenary Road to Carlisle and Cross. This will require the expansion of Centenary Road by 3,5m in addition to construction of a side walk to Mansfield Road.

The municipality proposes to temporary detour traffic through Centenary Road to Carlisle and Cross Streets. This will require the following activities:

·   Closure of Johannes Nkosi Street between Warwick Avenue and Russell Street;

·   Divert traffic along Centenary Road to Carlise Street, to Cross Street and to Johannes Nkosi Street;

·   Upgrade Centenary Road to accommodate one additional northbound lane;

·   Upgrade Carlise Street to three eastbound lanes and one westbound lane; and

·    Convert Cross Street that is currently one-way northbound to two-way between Carlise and Beatrice Streets and one-way southbound between Beatrice and Johannes Nkosi Streets.

It is expected that construction will take approximately 6 weeks to complete. These road works would need to complete prior to commencing the main contract.

Public Participation

As mentioned in the Background Information Document that was distributed regarding this proposed project, public involvement is a two-way communication and consultation process and we kindly summarise your responsibility as well as that of the public participation consultants as:

Your responsibilities as a participating I&AP You, as an I&AP, have a right to participate in this process by requesting further information or by informing the consultant of your concerns regarding the environment and the proposed project.  To exercise this right, you are requested to communicate with the public participation office.  You are kindly requested to inform others whom you think may be interested and/or affected by the proposed development, and encourage them to register.  You can register at any stage of the study, but it is important to register as early as possible.  Registration can also take place through a representative e.g. Tribal Authority Leader / Farmers’ Association / Residents’ Association, etc.

Our responsibilities In terms of the National Environmental Management Act, our responsibilities for the public consultation process include: ·   We must ensure that sufficient information regarding this proposed project is made available to you, either through the BID or providing information as and when requested. ·   We must ensure that you have an understanding of the proposed project to be able to comment informatively and to enable you to submit any concern in an informed manner. ·    We must ensure that the following actions are taken upon receiving any comments/queries/issues: *    the contact details provided by you are entered into the project database and that you are sent all further information releases *   if you send us queries or comments, we respond in writing *  if you call us, your details and queries / comments are recorded.  Should we not be able to answer your question immediately, your call will be returned as soon as possible with a response.

You will be informed of the dates and location of the Draft Basic Assessment and associated documents for public comment prior to the onset of the comment period.

SiVEST would like to thank you for being part of the public participation process and is looking forward to receiving your valuable comments relating to the proposed project and the scope change to this project. Please find attached a registration and comment form.

Should you have any queries please do not hesitate to contact Louise Bester at telephone (011) 798-0600.

 

Yours faithfully  

L. Bester

Environmental Consultant (Public Participation)        

SiVEST Environmental Division 

Comments and queries are welcome

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