The Gauteng provincial government said on Tuesday that it has committed R238-million to infrastructural development in Newtown in order to attract private sector investment to the area.
Speaking at the official opening of the on and off-ramps linking Newtown to the M1 South freeway, Finance and Economic Affairs MEC Jabu Moleketi said the success of Newtown project was based on a strong private public partnership.
The Newtown precinct west of the central business district has been the focus of a number of development projects over the past few years.
Both the M1-Carr Street interchange and the new Nelson Mandela Bridge are part of Newtown’s redevelopment. The Mandela Bridge will be officially opened on Sunday by former President Nelson Mandela as part of his 85th birthday celebrations.
Moleketi said the projects were part of Blue IQ, the provincial government’s initiative to invest in economic infrastructure to accelerate growth of the province.
The 465m long northbound off-ramp from the south joins the Quinn and Carr street intersection, while the 611m-long southbound on-ramp joins the M1 South via Bezuidenhout Street.
”It is evident that through all the visible changes in Newtown that Blue IQ is committed to providing key economic infrastructure that is creating a day and night time venue for all the citizens of Gauteng,” Moleketi said.
Work on the project began in June 2001 and had created temporary employment for 60 people. The Gauteng Provincial Government through Blue IQ is working in partnership with the Johannesburg Roads Agency and the Johannesburg Development Agency.
The Blue IQ is investing more than R300-million in Newtown and at Constitution Hill.
Other Blue IQ project in Newtown are the Craft and Design Centre, Metro Mall, Newtown Music Centre and the Turbine Hall. – Sapa