This article may contain graphic and/or adult content unsuitable for minors and sensitive readers.
The Eastern Cape Department of Economic Development, Environmental Affairs and Tourism has cleared the way for construction to get underway on the giant Baywest City project.
The Department gave notice this morning that it had approved an application by Baywest City to construct temporary haul roads coming onto and exiting from the Baywest site via the N2 freeway.
It said the purpose of the haul roads was "to provide access for construction vehicles during the construction phase of the project and to remove any traffic constraints that may be imposed upon Sherwood, especially Walker Drive, as well as the surrounding suburbs¨.
The Department said three haul roads would be constructed, which would then be rehabilitated once the project had been completed.
It said the first haul road would enter the site from the east (Port Elizabeth), the second would exit the site leading onto the N2 freeway towards Port Elizabeth and the third would enter the site from the west in the direction of Jeffrey's Bay.
The department stressed that access control to and from the site would be strictly managed "to minimise the risk of incidents" and that appropriate traffic calming structures would be put in place to alert all road users.
It added that the haul roads were "strictly for construction vehicle purposes" and no members of the public would be permitted to enter the site via these access roads.
The Baywest City Mall will have an 85 000 square metre gross lettable area, housing 250 tenants of which 85% will be national, according to a recent presentation to the Economic Development, Tourism and Agriculture Committee.
It will create 2 975 direct jobs during the two-year construction period of which 3% will be highly-skilled, 67% skilled and 30% semi-skilled or unskilled.
According to the presentation, 2 577 direct jobs will be created once the mall is operational and a further 4 137 indirect and 1 840 induced employment opportunities making a total of 8 555.
(Source: Metrominute - to subscribe mail metminutes@iafrica.com)
