Underground tunnels have been found below the centre of Johannesburg’s CBD and could become trendy, well-lit walkways, complete with coffee shops and real parks.

Yup, the Johannesburg Development Agency (JDA) plans to commission a feasibility study into whether the old postal tunnels, which were closed in 1956, could be used to connect transport hubs and buildings.

While only 3km have been found, it is highly suspected they may extend further. IOL has more:

Ray Harli and Yonah Odendal, from Urbansoup Architects and Urban Designers, have great plans for the tunnels. They specialise in transport-related architecture and focus on inner-city regeneration.

They rediscovered the entrance to one of the tunnels while constructing the new Kazerne transit-oriented transport hub near Queen Elizabeth Bridge.

“We were digging away into an old embankment when we found the entrance. We had no idea what was inside. We immediately got the heritage authorities and the JDA, for whom we are working on the Kazerne node, involved. We also started looking at the history of the tunnels,” Harli said.

The pair of architects believe the tunnels could contribute to the urban regeneration and “stitching” together of city buildings and transport nodes of the new Kazerne and Park stations, as well as people who use the nearby Noord Street taxi facility. The tunnels would also become a new public space, said Harli.

While the study could take up to 18 months to complete, the project, called “Subcity,” could be a great addition to the city. Artist’s impression, below:

History of the tunnels

In the 1930s the tunnels were built at a cost of R800 000 between the Jeppe Street post office and the former Harrison Street post office to Kazerne. Upon completion, Jozi had one of the fastest mail systems in the country, but delivery was hampered by heavy traffic.

Kazerne was a postal distribution hub and the tunnels continued to Park Station where the mail was despatched to various destinations. They run under the railway tracks to the different platforms. IOL continues:

Letters and parcels were moved on a conveyor belt between various points and ejected through a chute system onto the trains, with 33 000 bags of letters handled weekly between 3AM and 11PM.

The tunnels were closed in 1956 when Park Station had to be expanded.

Later, a sorting depot was built underground at Kazerne with a three-storey building above it, but over the years it became derelict and was taken over as a parking area by taxis.

Here’s a map, and you can read the official documents concerning the original engineering plans, complete with photographs of the tunnels, HERE:

During the study entrance to the tunnels will be closed off for safety reasons, for fear that people may make the space their homes.

Either way, with the DA forcing their way into other major metropoles, things like this could be seen to take off.

[source:iol]