Senior Reporter

CONSTRUCTION of the Gautrain rapid rail link would only start early next year because the environmental impact assessment phase took longer than anticipated, the Gautrain project team said yesterday.

The assessment took six months longer than planned because affected residents wanted more studies conducted on alternative routes, and on the project's environmental impact.

The project was initially scheduled to begin in June, but is now expected to be delayed for six to nine months.

Although the delay might seem lengthy, Gautrain project spokeswoman Barbara Jensen said projects of this nature normally took 14 years from conception to completion.

The Gautrain high-speed train project which will link Johannesburg, Sandton, Pretoria and Johannesburg International Airport is now only likely to be finished in 2010 .

The Gauteng agriculture, conservation, environment and land affairs department has been reviewing objections to the project and it is expected to make a final decision in the next few weeks.

Jensen said the first phase of the project, between Sandton and Pretoria and between Sandton and Johannesburg International Airport, was supposed to be completed in the middle of 2007. That phase is now likely to be completed in the middle of 2008.

The second phase, between Sandton and Johannesburg's Park Station, is now likely to be finished in 2010.

Meanwhile, the Gautrain tender evaluation committee and national treasury's public private partnership unit are evaluating bid documents from two shortlisted consortiums .

Jensen said the preferred bidder would be announced around June this year and the parties would take about six months to decide on terms of the contract.

Jan 28 2004 07:10:33:000AM Ernest Mabuza Business Day 1st Edition