Joburg says Sandton BRT nearing completion

Staff Reporter

The City of Johannesburg said on Tuesday that its Sandton Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) roadways project was approaching completion.

The project, implemented by the Johannesburg Development Agency (JDA) on behalf of the city’s transport department, forms part of Johannesburg’s plan to build “a more efficient, reliable, and integrated public transport system”.

In a statement, the city said the Katherine Street roadways project reached practical completion on March 31, meaning “a significant step toward the full realisation of the Phase 1C trunk route”.

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It said the work was delivered on time and within budget, while also recording cost savings, which it said “underscores the strength of the JDA’s delivery model and the discipline of the project team”.

The Sandton corridor forms part of a Rea Vaya rollout that has been dogged by delays and shifting deadlines for years. The system was launched in 2009, but has still not fully delivered on its original ambition of linking Soweto and Sandton through cheap, reliable mass public transport.

BusinessTech reported in February 2025 that Phase 1C, intended to run from the inner city through areas including Hillbrow, Yeoville, Orange Grove, Bramley and Wynberg to Alexandra and Sandton, was once expected to be completed by 2017, but more than R1.5 billion had already been spent on that phase without it being fully operational. It also reported that Phases 1A and 1B had cost ratepayers more than R10 billion by the end of 2017.

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According to the city’s statement, the JDA-led team used “innovative and adaptive project management approaches” to navigate unavoidable delays, manage complex interfaces, recover time where possible and maintain progress on the project.

Construction along Rivonia Road has also advanced steadily,