Work on the new three-storey Durban car terminal building at Cato Creek is proceeding at a brisk pace.

When completed, the project, which is under the direction of project managers Protekon and involves a black economic empowerment content of about 40 percent, will consist of a 66 000m2 three-tiered parking facility. The building will accommodate up to 3 000 motor vehicles at one time, over and above the existing 3 800 parking bays in the present open air parking area.

According to Protekon, the work on an overhead bridge connecting the car terminal with Q and R berths should be completed later this year and the entire project completed by March next year.

The R100 million project has become necessary as a result of the phenomenal success of the SA Port Operations Car Terminal, which has already exceeded its design capacity. Last year alone the terminal handled more than 114 000 vehicles.

The timing of the terminal is crucial and links in with the advent of Toyota SA as an exporter of motor vehicles, joining established exporters such as BMW and other motor manufacturers and importers involved in the global economy. - The Mercury