PROJECT INCOMPLETE: Mayor Morero reopens Lilian Ngoyi Street, but the project is still unfinished
Two days before Johannesburg residents go to the polls, outgoing mayor Dada Morero declared the long-delayed Lilian Ngoyi Street rehabilitation project delivered and said he was ending his term “on a good note” – although work on the street is not yet finished.
Mayor Dada Morero reopened Lilian Ngoyi Street in Johannesburg's CBD on Monday, despite the project still being unfinished. The reopening came two weeks before the city's local government elections. The Johannesburg Roads Agency (JRA) described Phase 2 of the project as having reached "practical completion," but work on pavements and street furniture is still pending.
The project, which began three years ago after an explosion damaged the street, faced numerous challenges including contractor issues, shifting deadlines, and cash flow constraints. The $185 million project involved reconstructing the underground service tunnel, replacing infrastructure, and redesigning the road to prioritize pedestrians and public transport.
Morero acknowledged that the project's cost and complexity, along with underground services, contributed to the delays. The street, which once had five lanes, now features three lanes, wider pavements, and facilities for informal traders, bus stops, ablution facilities, and street furniture.
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