CONSTRUCTION UPDATE – 31 JULY 2010

Posted on Aug 10, 2010 in Construction Update - 2010, Featured

A) CONSTRUCTION

On 8 June 2010, Phase 1 of the Gautrain System was opened for commercial service. The first phase operations include the airport train service between Sandton Station and OR Tambo International Airport, a commuter service between Sandton and Rhodesfield – with an intermediate stop at Marlboro Station – as well as dedicated feeder and distribution bus services to and from the Sandton and Rhodesfield Stations. The Operations Control Centre, together with the Train and Bus Depot facilities located just south of Allandale Road in the Midrand area, were also completed as part of the first phase scope of works.

The remaining sections of Sandton Station required for the Phase 2 operations will be completed by December 2010. These works include completion of the podium slab over the station complex, the remaining 2/3 of the parking facilities, the third platform to service the southbound line to the Rosebank and Park stations, an undercover taxi terminus and the final reinstatement of Rivonia Road.

This and future construction updates will focus on progress of the Gautrain Phase 2 works, comprising the underground section between Sandton Station and Park Station and the route between Midrand Station and Hatfield Station.

1. Underground section

Within the Phase 2 tunnel section between Sandton Station and Johannesburg Park Station, civil works are approaching completion and the installation of mechanical and electrical equipment is ongoing. By the end of July 2010, these works had been completed from Sandton to Rosebank Station and are well advanced along the remaining length of tunnel to Park Station. Tracklaying within the completed tunnel is progressing southwards from Sandton.

The underground works also include the construction of seven emergency access shafts located at intervals along the single-track rail tunnel between Park Station and Sandton Station. These shafts will provide emergency services personnel access to the tunnels below. At the bottom of certain of these shafts there will be safe havens where passengers can gather in case of an emergency. Construction works are ongoing at each of these emergency access shafts.

PARK STATION

Johannesburg Park Station tunnel towards Emergency Shaft 2

M&E installations on concourse level at Johannesburg Park Station

At Park Station, construction of the cut-and-cover section linking the northern end of the station box to the tunnel portal is ongoing. Within the station itself, internal finishes are well advanced, mechanical and electrical works are ongoing and installation of escalators is in progress. Erection of the structural steelwork for the entrance pavilion on the southern side of Wolmarans Street is substantially complete and construction of the ventilation structure on the northern side of Smit Street is ongoing.

At the parkade structure – located above the station – the final 6th level deck slab has been cast and erection of precast parapets is ongoing.

Reinstatement of Wolmarans Street is complete and reinstatement of Smit Steet is nearing completion.

EMERGENCY ACCESS SHAFT E1 (HILLBROW)

Construction works at Shaft E1 are substantially complete, with external finishings and landscaping to follow.

EMERGENCY ACCESS SHAFT E2 (THE WILDS, HOUGHTON)

Construction activities within the safe haven and technical rooms located at the bottom of this shaft are well advanced. Installation of the structural steelwork access structure within the shaft is complete and construction of the surface head house building has commenced.

EMERGENCY ACCESS SHAFT E3 (RIVIERA)

The surface head house structure is complete and external works and landscaping are in progress. Being a shallow shaft with direct access to the surface, there is no safe haven necessary at the bottom of this shaft.

EMERGENCY ACCESS SHAFT E4 (HOUGHTON)

The surface head house structure is substantially complete, with only minor finishing works remaining. External works have commenced and landscaping will follow in the coming weeks. Like E3, being a shallow shaft with direct access to the surface, there is no safe haven necessary at the bottom of this shaft.

ROSEBANK STATION

Construction of the cut and cover towards the TBM tunnel at Rosebank Station

M&E installation and construction of the Rosebank Station concourse level

At Rosebank Station, works within the underground areas are in a similar state of completion to Park Station, with internal finishes well advanced and mechanical and electrical installations in progress.

The main entrance to the station and the parkade structure are located on the eastern side of Oxford Road. Construction of these is ongoing, with the final level of the three level parkade currently in progress. There will be two other entrances to the underground station on the western side of Oxford Road, where lateral support piling has been completed and excavations are in progress.

Backfilling of the roof slab over the station box and the adjacent cut and cover structures was completed earlier this year. The phased reinstatement of Oxford Road over the station is ongoing, with the first section having been opened to traffic towards the end of June 2010 and works on the second phase well advanced. The road reinstatement is being carried out on a phased basis to enable the two station entrances and the ventilation structure located on the western side of Oxford Road to be constructed.

EMERGENCY ACCESS SHAFT E5 (DUNKELD, ROSEBANK)

Construction of the safe haven and technical rooms located at the bottom of this shaft is complete, as is the installation of the structural steelwork access structure within the shaft itself. Construction of the headhouse building will commence shortly.

EMERGENCY ACCESS SHAFT E6 (ILLOVO)

Construction of the safe haven and technical rooms located at the bottom of this shaft is approaching completion and mechanical and electrical installations are ongoing.

EMERGENCY ACCESS SHAFT E7 (WESTERN SIDE OF RIVONIA ROAD, SANDTON)

Construction of the safe haven and technical rooms located at the bottom of this shaft is substantially complete. Installation of the structural steelwork access structure within the shaft itself will commence shortly.

2. NORTHERN SECTION (Depot to Hatfield Station)

DEPOT TO MIDRAND, INCLUDING VIADUCT 3 OVER ALLENDALE ROAD

Between the Depot and Midrand Station, all construction works and bridge structures, including Viaduct 3 crossing Allendale Road, are complete, as are all railway installations.

MIDRAND STATION

Entrance to Midrand Station

Installed canopies and tarred surfaces of Midrand Station parkade

At Midrand Station, construction and building works are complete. Façade glazing, internal finishes and mechanical and electrical works are also substantially complete. Installation of the fare gates within the concourse area has commenced. At the platforms, floor tiling is well advanced.

Externally, construction of the carpark, the bus terminus areas and the new section of Grand Central Boulevard that provides access to the station from the Old Pretoria Road (K101) are all substantially complete. Remaining external works include final completion of the attenuation pond, paving and landscaping, all of which are in progress.

MIDRAND TO CENTURION, INCLUDING VIADUCT 4 OVER RIETSPRUIT AND OLIFANTSFONTEIN ROAD SOUTH

From Midrand Station to Centurion, all construction works and bridge structures, including Viaduct 4 crossing over Rietspruit and Olifantsfontein Road South, are complete. Tracklaying operations and the installation of associated railway infrastructure in this area are well advanced, having progressed to just south of the John Vorster Viaduct by the end of July 2010.

CENTURION AREA, INCLUDING VIADUCT 5 OVER THE N1 AND BEN SCHOEMAN HIGHWAYS AND CENTURION STATION

Construction of Viaduct 5b – which is the balanced cantilever viaduct crossing the N1 and the John Vorster Interchange – was completed during June 2010. Erection of catenary masts over this structure has been completed and tracklaying operations are in progress.

Installation of parapets along Viaduct 5 through Centurion

Constructed Viaduct 5 at Jean Avenue, Centurion

Viaduct 5c carries the elevated Gautrain railway lines through Centurion. It supports the elevated Centurion Station platforms located approximately midway along its length. This almost 3 km long structure is complete and tracklaying operations over this structure are also in progress.

Viaduct 5d crosses the Ben Schoeman highway and the Jean Avenue Interchange. Civil construction works on this viaduct were completed during July 2010. Catenary masts have been erected and placing of sleepers across the decks will start shortly.

Centurion Station adjacent to Viaduct 5

Placing of concrete slabs for laying of tracks on Viaduct 5 at Centrurion Station

The Centurion Station platforms are elevated and are located on Viaduct 5c, which runs immediately adjacent and parallel to West Street. The concourse buildings and parking area are at ground level. Civil construction work at Centurion station is nearing completion, with the last of the structural works – being the two emergency escape stairs at the southern ends of the platforms – both well advanced. Within the station buildings, internal finishings and M&E works are nearing completion. Externally, carpark construction is ongoing, with final layer works, drainage, kerbing and erection of structural steel parking canopies in progress. The bus management building and the perimeter palisade boundary wall are well advanced.

CENTURION TO PRETORIA, INCLUDING VIADUCT 6 OVER EEUFEES ROAD

Civil construction works along this section of the route – which include extensive earthworks, a number of bridges, U-shape structures through the military area and Viaduct 6 crossing Eeufees Road – are well progressed and will be completed within the next few weeks. Viaduct 6 is complete and is ready for the installation of trackwork and associated railway infrastructure across its decks.

PRETORIA STATION

Front-end lifter with the entrance of Pretoria Station in the background

Rehabilitation of the old shed at Pretoria Station

At Pretoria Station, civil construction works for the station buildings are complete. Internal finishings and electrical and mechanical works are well advanced and the installation of fare gates and associated station equipment will commence shortly.

Refurbishment of the historically significant loco shed, which has been incorporated into the Gautrain station design, is substantially complete.

Work continues in the public parking and bus areas, with earthworks, drainage activities and final layer works in progress. Construction of the perimeter palisade boundary wall is well advanced.

PRETORIA TO HATFIELD, INCLUDING VIADUCT 7 OVER NELSON MANDELA BOULEVARD

Viaduct 7 comprises a set of “Y-shaped” viaducts and flyovers that carry the Gautrain railway lines into Pretoria Station from the south and then across Nelson Mandela Boulevard and the adjacent PRASA railway network towards Hatfield. Construction of all of these structures is substantially complete, with the installation of trackwork and associated railway infrastructure to follow during the coming months.

Earth and foundation work for the Gautrain alignment alongside the PRASA railway reserve

Earth and foundation work for the Gautrain alignment alongside the PRASA railway reserve

Between Pretoria Station and Hatfield Station, a number of bridges crossing the existing PRASA railway line have been either widened or lengthened to accommodate the adjacent Gautrain tracks. Most of these bridges have already been completed and reopened to traffic, with minor finishing works to the remaining structures ongoing. Extensive lateral support works in cuttings, together with the earthworks and construction of the retaining structures necessary to widen the existing embankments, are ongoing.

HATFIELD STATION

Roof cladding and façade glazing for the contruction of the concourse at Hatfield Station

Construction on the steel roof structure over the concourse level at Hatfield Station

At Hatfield Station, concourse construction is ongoing, with structural steelwork erection complete, roof cladding in progress and façade glazing well advanced. Floor and wall tiling and internal finishes are in progress. Platform construction below the concourse slab is ongoing. Mechanical and electrical installations and finishing works within the parkade structure are well advanced. At the adjacent bus terminus area, the bus management building is substantially complete and earthworks will commence shortly.

C) OVERALL PROGRESS

Construction started at the end of September 2006. Gautrain will be completed in two phases:

1. The first phase was initially planned to be of a 45 months contractual duration, but was completed three weeks ahead of this, on 08 June 2010. It includes the network between the OR Tambo International Airport and Sandton and includes the stations at OR Tambo, Rhodesfield, Marlboro and Sandton, together with the Depot and Operations Control Centre located near Allandale Road in Midrand.

2. The second phase, being constructed concurrently, will be completed in 54 months, during 2011. It includes the remainder of the rail network and stations linking Sandton to Park Station in Johannesburg and the route from Midrand to Hatfield.

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