Since the beginning of March, the Polish-Spanish consortium of NDI and Balzola have been conducting works on the first stage of the City Center redevelopment. The construction crews have finished about one-third of the planned works.
Builders of the consortium are currently progressing with the laying of tram track-ways on the Market Sq., the streets of Św. Jana, and short sections of Warszawska and Kochanowskiego (the tracks located under the railway overbridge). Some ground works are being moved forward in front of the Silesian Theater and near the Silesian Museum. The workers have also started works on pavements and road margins on Św. Jana and Kochanowskiego streets.
“Approximately 30-40 percent of works on the first stage is done in general. 1 300 meters of tram rails were laid by now, that gives 650 meters of the tram track-ways already set. This is about 30% of all rails to be laid within the scheduled works” – reported Daniel Muc, press spokesman of the Roundabout – Market Square redevelopment.
Additionally, the first stage includes the redevelopment of tram tracks and surrounding infrastructure between the Roundabout and Moniuszki St. as well as the removal of the tram tack-ways from Pocztowa and Dworcowa streets. Also, the consortium is involved in the construction of a tram bridge over the “Rawa” river, new tram platforms, tram wires, road surfaces (mostly on Św. Jana St.), traffic lights, redevelopment of a sewerage system and power network.
The works total PLN 28 million and are conducted on behalf of the City Hall of Katowice. The first stage of the City Center redevelopment will be finished in the first quarter of 2013. The City Hall is going to issue a tender for the second stage of works (roads infrastructure) in the weeks to come.
