SA: Rhodesfield Station on schedule for completion in time for 2010
The project, which started in May 2009, involves the construction of a new metrorail railway station and platforms. Gerald Loe, Contracts Director at Rainbow Construction explains, “The station will be elevated above the new platforms with access to the station from the East and Western sides. On grade parking will be constructed to the Eastern and Western access areas.”
Responsible for the project management, design and construction supervision of the station, GIBB’s design responsibilities included the design of the rail infrastructure, comprising track, signaling and overhead electrification as well as the structural, electrical, mechanical and all the civil works.
The remodeling of the rail infrastructure consists of the realignment of the four railway lines and associated signaling and overhead electrification works to create space for the construction of two island platforms. The station consists of an aerial concourse over the island platforms with the Eastern entrance connecting to the Gautrain station precinct and the Western entrance connecting to a dedicated intermodal facility.
The R164 million (22 million USD) Rhodesfield Station is being constructed on the existing JHB—Germiston—Pretoria commuter lines between Isando and Kempton Park stations. These lines and services extend towards the three primary host city stadiums in Johannesburg and Pretoria, namely Coca Cola Stadium, Soccer City and Loftus.
The new Rhodesfield Station being constructed by Rainbow Construction is the latest Metrorail railway station and platforms commissioned by PRASA (Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa). The project is progressing well and will be fully completed by May 2010 – well in time for the start of the 2010 FIFA World Cup in June.
The station’s location will enable people arriving at ORTIA (OR Tambo International Airport) to access the PRASA commuter rail services to these venues. Through the interchange with the Gautrain station, the proposed station will also provide a direct link to Sandton. The station will also serve the rapidly developing Rhodesfield suburbs which are in the process of being redeveloped to support the airport industry and associated services.
Loe explains the challenges, “We have to re-route the existing 3 000 volt railway overhead lines and tracks to build the new platforms within these new lines whilst trains are fully operational. We were granted permission by PRASA to erect a tower crane that is slewed over live lines.”
Wimpie Oosthuizen of GIBB pointgs out that the challenges included the short time for the design and construction of the station facility within 14 months as well as the design and construction interfaces with the adjacent Gautrain station which was well advanced in the design and construction phase.
The Rhodesfield Station project is just one of many transport infrastructure development projects currently under way in order to get the country in a state of readiness to host the 2010 FIFA World Cup and be able to transport thousands of soccer fans to and from the soccer stadiums. Over and above the integration with Gautrain, the need for a station is seen as a strategic intervention to enhance rail commuter services in the region.
Project Team
| Main Contractor | Rainbow Construction |
| Project Manager Engineer |
Arcus GIBB |
| Quantity Surveyor | Davis Langdon Abakali Quantity Surveyors |
| Architect | Martinez Architects |
