/ MEDIA STATEMENT / The content on this page is not written by Polity.org.za, but is supplied by third parties. This content does not constitute news reporting by Polity.org.za.

This heritage month, we focus on the construction of the Rea Vaya Heritage Walkway, a heritage landscaping and public environment upgrade project that forms part of the Louis Botha Development Corridor along Houghton Drive, which has reached practical completion. 

The significance of this project, which was undertaken by the Johannesburg Development Agency (JDA) on behalf of the City of Johannesburg, rests in the historical value of the historical stone wall bus shelter and chlorination chamber, which is assumed to have been built in 1939. 

While Louis Botha’s significance as north-south connection between Alex and CBD is expected to be strengthened through its transformation as a BRT corridor, the corridor still features numerous cultural and heritage sections. 

The construction of the Rea Vaya along this corridor necessitated the building of a pedestrian bridge parallel to the historical stone retaining wall, hence the inception of the Heritage Walkway project. The historical stone wall lays the backdrop to the pedestrian walkway which includes a pedestrian, road widening and paving works.

The over scope of works entailed the construction of bus-bays and installation of bus-shelters, construction and upgrading of paved walkways, pedestrian ramps, geometric road upgrades as well as construction of retaining walls and structural steel staircases.

The Rea Vaya Heritage Walkway is located on Louis Botha Avenue Development Corridor, which lies the north-east of the Inner City, between the CBD and northern parts of the City. The project was important to ensure that the rollout of Rea Vaya infrastructure along this Corridor does not have a negative impact on the heritage value of existing heritage structure. 

Overall the project objectives were to:

• To rehabilitate the heritage bus shelter site with no impact upon the heritage features 
• Provide a suitable and well-functioning taxi lay-by facility and associated facilities as required
• To improve pedestrian connectivity across the site and to Louis Botha Avenue BRT route
• Develop a unique identity for the site through a high-quality, landscaped public open space

Issued by the City of Johannesburg