Heritage Cases

1. INTRODUCTION The Johannesburg Roads Agency (JRA) has developed a new dual carriage road way in Crownwood Road, Ormonde, City of Johannesburg, Gauteng Province. It is intended for the old bridge to be demolished. The proposed demolition of the old Crownwood Road Bridge is essentially intended due to the development of the new dual carriage roadway. The new development consists of a new bridge which includes a road with two lanes in both directions. Other sections of Crownwood Road, to the north and south of the project site, are already dual carriage ways; thus the proposed upgrade is an attempt to standardise the engineering and provide traffic solutions. The need for the new development and intent to demolish the old structure include: • The old structure (bridge) was not maintained and up to engineering and design standards • Due to the narrow nature of the old bridge, as well as large volumes of traffic, it was unsafe for pedestrians to use. • The old bridge was a single lane carriage way and created a bottle neck traffic effect causing endless delays and frustrations • Due to stop and go nature of a single lane carriage way, the old bridge had become a crime hotspot, with regular smash and grab incidents. The proposed demolition is located within the build environment (industrial and residential), however, the visual character an sense of the place may be compromised. In compliance with Section 38 (8) of the National Heritage Resource Act (NHRA), a Notification of Intent to Develop (NID) was submitted to SAHRA and a PHRAG. In terms of Sections 24(2) and 24D of the National Environmental Management Act (Act No. 107 of 1998), as amended, and as read with the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Regulations of Government Notices R 982 to 985 (as amended), the development will not require an Environmental Impact Assessment Process and subsequent Environmental Authorisation. 2. LEGAL REQUIREMENTS The public participation approach implemented in this process adhered to the processes that are required as per Chapter 6, Regulation 40 – 44 of GN R.982 of the National Environmental Management Act (NEMA) EIA Regulations, 2014.