Dohne Damons
The estimated reconstruction cost of Bree Street, following a gas explosion in July last year, stands at approximately R196 million. However, this cost may see an increase during the initial stages of construction.
In a recent interview, Gugulethu Mfuphi discussed the situation with Nthatisi Modingoane, the City of Joburg spokesperson. Modingoane shed light on the processes that led to the cost estimation and outlined the city’s preventive measures against fund misappropriation.
Modingoane explains that since the explosion, a quality assurance team, led by the Group Financial Officer of the city, has been established to oversee the governance of the open tender to contractors. This team will closely monitor the entire construction process.
The assessment of the damage on Bree Street revealed the necessity for a complete reconstruction and modernisation. This includes the implementation of systems such as ventilation and smoke detection. Outdated service tunnels, accessible through manholes, presented a challenge as many were sealed to prevent theft, resulting in reduced ventilation.
The restructuring of Bree Street will kick off with the construction of modernised underground service tunnels featuring ventilation and smoke detection systems for immediate emergency response. The targeted completion date for the construction is December 16, 2024.
Post-construction, Bree Street will receive a facelift, serving as a model for the redesign of other streets in the city. To learn more about the planned changes, click play on the podcast.
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