Pretoria - The Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality has officially opened the newly upgraded streets in the vicinity of the Loftus Versveld Stadium to accommodate the expected influx of traffic volumes during the FIFA Confederations Cup.
Opening the upgraded Burnett Street on Wednesday, Tshwane's Member of the Mayoral Committee on Public Works and Infrastructure Development Councillor, Subesh Pillay said the road has been converted into a one-way street to the north.
Other streets upgraded included the Festival Street, which is now one-way joining Church Street and connecting with Burnett Street.
The Crossvenor Street has been changed into a two-way, while Hilda Street has been also been upgraded into a one-way street.
"The route would be used by, among others, buses transporting people from the park and ride areas during the Confederations Cup and the World Cup," Mr Pillay said.
He also urged motorists and pedestrians to follow the new signage which had been erected to guide people as to how to get to the park and ride areas.
Also as part of the preparations for the Confederations Cup, more parking spaces have been created.
Clr Pillay has also assured tourists and soccer fans that there will be adequate security, medical personnel and other emergency personnel on standby at the stadium.
"The city has put in place a comprehensive and integrated transport plan to get fans to and from the stadium safely and efficiently," he said.
He further said the street upgrades will be a legacy for the city and country beyond the Confederations Cup and the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
Meanwhile, public viewing areas for the Confederations Cup in Tshwane will take place at the Temba Sports Ground in Hammaskraal on 14 June for the opening match between Bafana Bafana and Asia Champions, Iraq (4pm) which will be played at the Coca Cola Park in Johannesburg.
Hammaskraal residents will also have a chance to watch the second match of the day between OFC Nations Cup Champions New Zealand locking horns with European Champions, Spain, which will kick-off at 8:30pm at the Royal Bafokeng Stadium in Rustenburg.
Meanwhile, in Soshanguve, Block X will host the public viewing event on Saturday, 20 June, for the Spain/SA match and on the next day, Soshanguve residents will have an opportunity to watch the match between Brazil and Italy at 8:30pm.
Another public viewing area will be at the Mbolekwa Sports Complex in Atteridgeville where residents will watch the first semifinal on Wednesday, 24 June. On the following day, the second semifinal will be shown at the same venue at 8:30pm.
The City of Tshwane has also confirmed that the big screen for the third and forth playoff as well as for the final to be played on Sunday, 28 June, will be erected at the Moretele Park in Mamelodi.
Great festivity has been promised at all public viewing areas, including music and other entertainment.
