By Lynn Williams
THE Eastern Cape public works department has created more than 40 jobs with the structural upgrading of the government garage building in Port Elizabeth.
The garage in North End was built in 1961 at a cost of R1,6-million. No major maintenance was done on it between 1961 and 2006.
Departmental spokesman Jason Lloyd said renovations had not been done earlier because road maintenance, hospital revitalisation and clinic building programmes had a higher priority.
He said the year-long employment of workers would reduce unemployment.
Public Works MEC Christian Martin said the project was also intended to educate and train those employed as a means of economic empowerment.
The R12-million project started six months ago and is expected to be complete in November. The building will be used for the storage of impounded taxis, written-off yellow fleet vehicles and VIP parking during the Soccer World Cup in 2010.
“After the world cup, the garage might be rented out for parking during all big sporting events at the new North End Lake stadium,” Lloyd said.