Heritage Cases

CoT prefers that existing lanes be adopted for the BRT rather than construction of new lanes, with the exception of Transoranje Road. Transoranje Road will be widened by 10m on either side of the road (where permitted), bringing the total number of lanes to 4. A turning facility will be provided for the BRT on Maunde Street in the vicinity of Khoza Street in Atteridgeville. Most of the roads on the BRT route do not have pedestrian and cycle lanes. Construction of the BRT route will include widening of the existing roads so as to include pedestrian and cycle lanes. The project also involves the provision for following infrastructure: 1. Mixed traffic lanes 2. Provision of traffic signals at junctions 3. BRT stations 4. Storm water/drainage 5. Services (water, sewer, power, data, etc.) to the BRT stations 6. Street lighting 7. Landscaping 8. Relocation of existing services 9. Structures/Bridges 10. Ancillary works including road signs and markings K2M Environmental appointed Gavin Anderson to undertake a desktop study to identify areas and structures of significant importance. This study serves as a Letter of Exemption from further Heritage investigation for the proposed BRT Line 3. The desktop study consisted of analysing various maps for evidence of prior habitation in the study area, as well as for previous archaeological surveys. According to desktop study, the archaeological database indicates that there are no archaeological sites in the general area. This is a result of the densely populated and developed area. Furthermore, there are several National Monuments in the general area; however, none occur in the development footprint. The area in the Pretoria CBD has several listed buildings, however, these will not be affected. As part of the Letter of Exemption from further Heritage investigation, a Paleontological Desktop Study (see Appendix A of the desktop study compiled by Gavin Anderson) was undertaken by Dr Gideon Groenewald to assess the potential Paleontological impact related to the construction of the proposed BRT Line 3. As per the Paleontological study, the site of the development falls mainly on Vaalian aged sediments and volcanic rocks of the Pretoria Group, Transvaal Supergroup. There are no significant fossils that are expected before deep excavation (>1.5m) are done. In conclusion, there are no recorded heritage sites that occur along the route apart from the buildings in town. These buildings will not be affected by the BRT Line 3. Similarly, while the PIA notes that the area is of high palaeontological sensitivity, much of the area has been damaged by various infrastructures. Only excavations deeper than 2m could affect potential deposits.