Mass earthworks, columns and reinforced steel can be seen from Arkwright Avenue to Chadwick Avenue along Old Pretoria Road in Johannesburg, as the construction of Watt Interchange forges ahead.

Watt Interchange, along the Louis Botha Development Corridor, forms part of the Rea Vaya bus rapid transit (BRT) system, Phase 1C. This phase includes a trunk route from Sandton to Alexandra, along Rivonia Road and Katherine Drive, and a route from Parktown in Johannesburg to Alexandra, along Louis Botha Avenue.

The Watt Interchange will also connect, through minibus taxis, the greater part of Alexandra township to the Rea Vaya system, which is important for the integration of the different modes of transport in the city.

The upgrade will also see the construction of new BRT lanes and an underground station with associated structures, and bulk earthworks. Construction work at the Watt Interchange completed so far includes the demolishing of the previous bridge and the interchange at Watt Street, upstand concrete beams, viaduct columns, the allocation and relocation of services construction, and retaining wall construction.

Once completed, the Watt Interchange will stand as a high-quality integrated public transport interchange that will consist of the following key elements:

• underground basement loading and offloading bays
• commuter information area
• designated trunk route
• universal accessibility.