The eThekwini Municipality has spent R38 million to revitalise Isipingo Town Centre as part of its programme to revamp and upgrade secondary town centres.

Addressing stakeholders at the official opening of Alexander Street in Isipingo earlier this week Durban Mayor James Nxumalo said this is one of the many road upgrade projects undertaken by the City to improve traffic flow in and out of the town.

The upgrades also include pavements, taxi rank ranks and informal trading stalls.

“The improvements are a result of the vision of the Municipality. After having listened to the cries of local people and business, and working together with different stakeholders we developed the Isiphingo Town Regeneration programme, which is part of the broader vision of the City to redevelop the secondary town centres outside of the Durban CBD,” he explained.

Nxumalo added that the project will improve infrastructure in Isipingo in order to revive the economic potential of the area and attract investments. This includes the improvement of access and mobility within the town centre for motorists, pedestrians and informal traders.

The upgrades also include designation and revamp of trading stalls for informal traders.

Nxumalo noted that more than 200 informal traders will benefit from new designation and erection of informal traders facilities to improve their working conditions.

The result of this project will not only benefit local businesses and commuters, but it will play a very strategic role in generating new opportunities for logistical and freight route to support activities that will take place in the envisage dug-out-port port and other developments in the South area.

“The Municipality is currently investigating the possibility of introducing a new interchange on Joyner Road which will service the freight needs of the Dig-out-port and provide a totally new second access to Umlazi Township, he concluded.