The JB Marx Taxi Rank at Ikageng Extension 7, developed at a cost of just under R12 million, used pre-cast concrete bus shelters from Rocla and interlocking pavers from Technicrete to make the rank convenient and user-friendly for local commuters. The project, in the North West Province, was recently opened and comprises supporting infrastructure such as washing bays, hawker stalls, ablution facilities, taxi/commuter shelters and a waste management building.
Chris Nel, Project Manager at ALS Civil Projects, said “We used products from Rocla and Technicrete because we know the standard of their manufacturing processes. Their cost competitiveness is in the quality of their product. Having worked with both companies on a variety of projects since 2010 they know the standard expected of them by ALS Civil Projects, and have never let us down”.
“The pre-cast concrete bus shelters are a specialised product from Rocla. We required 148 units for the JB Marx Taxi Rank and due to the variety of dimensions required for the project, different moulds had to be used in the manufacturing process. This meant that the moulds had to be numbered at the Rocla factory and delivered in the correct order to site for installation. This was seamlessly executed by Rocla” said Nel.
“Some of the bus shelters were converted into hawker stalls” commented Dillon Carter, Sales Consultant for Rocla in the North West. “The pre-cast bus shelters and stalls are virtually indestructible and vandal proof. They offer shelter from heat and rain in addition to the comfort of providing seating for waiting commuters” said Carter.
The durability of the pre-cast concrete products offers a relatively maintenance free lifespan, an important factor for local municipalities wanting to ensure budgets for street furniture are well spent. The Rocla bus shelter can be supplied in various configurations, and although supplied in a light grey colour, the surface is easily painted for advertising, roadside markings and community notice purposes.
Technicrete 60 mm Double Zig-Zag (DZZ) interlocking pavers were selected for the entire road surface of the rank as well as for the walkways, in total an area of 7,000 m2 .The DZZs are ideal for installation in taxi ranks and other such areas where a heavy traffic footprint is anticipated. The interlocking pavers form a continuous surface overlay while still providing a good quality and pleasing finish.
“We knew that both Rocla and Technicrete were the only manufacturers in the area that could produce the required product quality and back it up with good service and logistical compliance in order that our project management ran on schedule. That is what we have come to expect from the two companies and we have not been disappointed “concluded Nel.
