Major projects

Major Project Update

GAUTRAIN

The Gautrain Rapid Rail Link project is due to start full system trial operations on the section between Sandton Station and the OR Tambo International Airport in March, with completion of a 10-week
trial scheduled for early June 2010.

The contractual completion date for this first phase of the project is end June but Bombela, of which Murray & Roberts is a lead partner, and the client, the Gauteng provincial government, are negotiating an earlier completion date in time for the 2010 Soccer World Cup.

Depot to Midrand Station. View towards the north - 18 December 2009

project milestones for 2010

Key project milestones for phase 1 include completion of all the electrical and mechanical (E&M) installation work in January, with the exception of some automatic fare collection equipment, and complete area integration testing in February.

Completion of the main bus depot, which will feed into the train route is expected in February.

Commencement of the trial running for phase 1 is due in March, with completion due early in June.

OR Tambo International Airport, and Rhodesfield, Marlboro and Sandton stations should all be largely completed and operational before the end of May.

Phase 2 milestones

Key project milestones for phase 2 in 2010 include the completion of viaduct 5 construction through Centurion and handing over of Hatfield Station by the civil contractor to the E&M installation contractor.

Testing and commissioning of the Midrand section, testing and commissioning of systems for the Centurion section, trackwork installation and power supply and distribution are also due for completion in 2010.

Sandton Station. View towards west - 28 January 2010		East - West Link / Heartland

Most of the physical construction and installation work, as well as the bulk of the testing and commissioning on the Gautrain should be completed by the end of 2010.

Handover and access to stations for E&M installation is expected to take place at the Pretoria, Rosebank, Centurion and Park stations between February and June 2010.

Rolling Stock

Viaduct at John Vorster off-ramp (N1) - 18 December 2009

The last sub-assembly for the rolling stock cars delivered from Derby to the UCW partnership in Nigel is expected to be completed by February, while the last rolling stock 4-car unit is expected to be completed for final acceptance testing by June.

MEDUPI POWER STATION Setting of the first boiler house coloumn At Medupi power station Boiler erection work has commenced at Eskom’s R120 billion Medupi power station near Lephalale in Limpopo Province, with the setting of the first boiler house column in January and erection of the boiler supporting structure in February and March. The setting of the column was preceded by more than two years of groundwork, which included completion of the design and manufacture and fabrication of the pressure parts, steel works and other components. The main cranes were also assembled, while the structural steel for the boiler supporting structure was delivered. The Medupi project, which is the largest dry-cooled power station currently under construction globally, will eventually comprise six units with a total of 4 800 MW installed capacity. The first unit is scheduled for commercial operation in 2012 and the last unit late in 2015.

GREEN POINT STADIUM

The keys to the new Green Point Stadium were handed over to the Cape Town’s Executive Mayor, Alderman Dan Plato, on 14 December 2009.

Construction of the 68 000-capacity stadium for the 2010 Soccer World Cup commenced in March 2007 and in just 33 months was completed, ahead of schedule, by Murray & Roberts and its partner. The stadium will host five first round World Cup matches, one second round match, one quarter-final and one semi-final.

Enclosed by a façade of woven fiberglass coated with Teflon, the stadium resembles a rose-coloured bowl floating on a base when lit up at night. Capetonians have dubbed it “the Diva of Cape Town” as it reflects the constantly changing moods of the city in different weather conditions.

More than 2 800 workers were employed on site during construction and almost 1 200 artisans received training from the contractors.

A consortium comprising the South African Sail Group and the French-based Stade de France was awarded the service contract to operate the stadium and ensure that it remains a sustainable multipurpose venue after the 2010 World Cup.

The completed Green Point Stadium is a striking visual landmark in capet Town