Witness article: Interesting...guess with the increased distance to the Durban airport, there will be more pressure on PMB

New Pmb airport mooted
25 Sep 2009
Kavith Harrilall

PIETERMARITZBURG’S need for a sufficiently large, well-resourced airport with ample infrastructure that is able to accommodate jet aircraft came under the spotlight at a seminar on the economic prospects for the “City of Choice”.

Rigby told the delegates that he has identified a suitable site near the Lion Park that is presently occupied by a major chicken producer.
However, it is clear it will take a long time to get the ball rolling on the possible establishment of a new airport.
Rigby argues that the airport at Oribi does not meet the needs of local consumers, particularly business people.
He said challenges relating to the exisiting airport include the size of aircraft accommodated, weather and topography-related constraints, as well as the relatively high cost of local flights.
Rigby noted that there are also various environmental and land-ownership challenges relating to the proposed site, but he believes that these issues can be successfully negotiated.
The seminar, hosted by the Pietermaritzburg Chamber of Business, was held in preparation for next month’s “strategic city summit”.

^^

IS THE DISTANCE GREATER.

:cheers:

Yes it is. Having an airport in the Lion Park area could capture some of the Hillcrest/Assagay market but it would be competing with King Shaka Intl. I'd prefer to see an airport on the Hilton side that served Pmb and the Midlands.

^^ i agree... maybe even up by Hilton

I think an airport near the Midlands would really boost tourism there and to the Berg. Hope something comes of it.

This is an extension to a medical centre in Pmb. No, it's not glass, that's just the scaffolding. I assume it'll be the same as the smaller building next to it on the right. Not sure if it's a revamp or a new building - I think it's new. It's about 6 floors. Sorry pic is bad, was taken from far away on my phone.

http://img21.imageshack.us/img21/7748/pmbmedical.jpg (http://img21.imageshack.us/i/pmbmedical.jpg/)

Saw in the Witness yesterday that there is a new shopping mall planned for the Ashburton (Durban) side of Maritzburg. Unfortunately, it was premium content so could read more than that. Did anyone see the article?

Wow, just found this:

PROJECT DESCRIPTION AND
LOCATION
The project entails the construction of the
following, including associated infrastruc-
ture:
• A small shopping mall with approxi-
mately 900 parking bays
• Several restaurants
• An African cultural village with cultural
traditional dancing spaces
• A water park with picnic areas and open
spaces
• A hotel with conference facilities and
serviced chalets with its own dedicated
parking bays
The total development footprint is ap-
proximately 22 hectare and with a cen-
trally located geographical positioning
system co-ordinate:
290 39’ 19.42” S
300 27’ 13.24” E

Here's the link with an aerial plan which looks awesome:

http://www.hn.co.za/files/BID_Ashburton%20Development_compressed.pdf

water ever happened to that proposed waterfront for PMB?

In the proposed concept there is a waterfront.

Saw an article in the Witness yesterday that the PMB waterfront project is back on track but it was "premium content". Did anyone see it?

R300m project starts this month. (Old Greytown road interchange)

Improvements to Chota Motala road interchange


MEDIA RELEASE
issued by
SANRAL
23 April 2010
IMPROVEMENTS TO CHOTA MOTALA ROAD INTERCHANGE

The South African National Roads Agency Limited (SANRAL) has awarded a contract to Group Five Joint Venture in consortium with Phambili, under the supervision of ILISO Consulting / Aurecon JV, for the upgrading of the Chota Motala Road (formerly Greytown Road) interchange (at kilometre mark 12.9) on National Route 3, Section 3, plus a portion of the N3 freeway and sections of Chota Motala Road on both approaches to the interchange. The upgrade to Chota Motala Road is funded by the Msunduzi Local Municipality.

Work will commence in April 2010and the construction is expected to be carried out for a period of 27 months ending approximately in June 2012.Work will be carried out in the following two distinct construction zones.

Zone 1: Widening of Chota Motala Road between East Street and Otto’s Bluff Road

Phase 1: Traffic will use the existing road, with new earthworks, road widening and new bridge work to be constructed along the western side.
Phase 2: Traffic will be diverted on to the new road and bridges, and the existing bridges over the N3 and Dorpspruit will be demolished and replaced. At the same time, new interchange ramps will be constructed to match the new bridge levels.
At times during construction, traffic will be confined to one through lane, with stop / go controls. There may also be short periods over week ends (2-3hours) when traffic may be prevented from using the interchange. During these times, it would be advisable that motorists consider use of alternative routes, such as Manning Road or Ohrtmann Road, to access the CBD and the N3