The multi-million development has created over 800 job opportunities thus far.

The residents of Pretoria North can anticipate a forthcoming development that will enhance the value of their neighbourhood.

According to metro spokesperson Lindela Mashigo, the Rainbow Junction development is 96% complete.

“The Rainbow Junction/Wonderboom Intermodal Facility and Hector Peterson A Re Yeng BRT station were planned as one of the terminals in the development and construction of the Bus Rapid Transit Line 1A. It runs from Pretoria Railway Station along Paul Kruger Street, Mansfield Avenue via Wonderboom Railway Station up to Kopanong Station in Soshanguve,” said Mashigo.

Mashigo mentioned that the main objective of the project is to create an integrated transport terminal encompassing Wonderboom railway stations, long-distance buses, minibus taxis, park-and-ride for public vehicles as well as BRT services.

“Line 1A is divided into several work packages to stagger the planning and construction.

“The project is set to be completed in a few months,” mentioned Mashigo.

Mashigo said the multi-million project has created 837 job opportunities so far.

“During the apartheid era, black and coloured people were settled beyond the bounds of the urban areas.

“Today, townships such as Mamelodi and Soshanguve still lie far from the economic opportunities the metro offers and inhabitants have to commute long distances by train or minibus taxi daily,” Mashigo said.

“The metro authorities have chosen to address the need to connect the sprawling city by introducing a BRT system, which speaks easy mode of transport for commuters,” he said.

He said the objective of the project is to design and construct a network of Bus RapTransit (BRT) Lines in the Tshwane metro by providing public transport for all the inhabitants of the metro and its suburbs.

“We want to transform public transport through creating high quality and affordable systems in line with the National Transport Strategy of 2007.

“The metro wants to improve the provision and level of service for public transport users and widen access to residential and economic nodes in Pretoria,” said Mashigo.

Tshwane Mayor Cilliers Brink (second from left in front) during an oversight visit at the Wonderboom BRT project.

Mashigo said the project will ease congestion during peak hours.

“Wonderboom Intermodal Facility Building Works (WP4D 2A & WP4D 2B) projects are complex projects with multiple mechanical, civil and electrical interfaces that were implemented under two different contracts.

“WP4D 2A, whose original completion date was March 2021, reached practical completion by August 2022 and completion is expected by June 30 this year.

“WP4D 2B is currently in the final stages of construction, with the retaining walls and escalators now in the critical path and delaying the completion of the hard landscaping (paving) around the Access Building and Ablutions,” he said.

Mashigo said that delays to the two projects were due to various challenges mainly related to contractors’ cash-flow problems and the Covid-19 pandemic.

“Other challenges included work stoppages or interference by the community and stakeholders, land expropriation and access to site issues, relocation of services, design changes and additional works sanctioned by the City of Tshwane.

“The contractor/s submitted the relevant extension of time applications that were ruled on by the principal agent in conjunction with the metro under the separate phases that took the completion of the WP4D 2B project to April 18,” said Mashigo.

The WP4D-2B contract relates to the following elements that have been constructed:

– Shelters for mini-bus taxis, buses and park-and-ride facilities.

– Ablution facilities

– Facilities for informal traders.

– Administrative office blocks for A Re Yeng and taxi association.

– Pedestrian bridge to link the Prasa rail station and the BRT bus station with various sections of the terminal.

“However, by adjusting the scope of landscaping and universal access works, approving additional retaining wall, approving for balustrades, additional storage costs for the lifts and escalators and allowing time for installation, the contract will be extended to June 28.”

The Wonderboom intermodal will encompass Rainbow Junction Development mixed-use development surrounding the Wonderboom intermodal and will include:

– a residential development

– large regional retail mall

– hotel and conference expo

– schools.