Brace yourself Cape Town, traffic is going to get worse!
According to a report from IOL Motoring, those who have had to deal with traffic delays over the past eight years out in the South of the peninsula will have to brace themselves for another three years of roadworks on Kommetjie Main Road and Ou Kaapseweg.
This is of course to help alleviate congestion in the long run and the intention is to have two-way traffic flow at all times. The president of the Cape Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Janine Myburgh, says the road improvements are long overdue and in the long-term interests of the South Peninsula.
The Main Road rehabilitation started way back in 2008 and so forced people to use Ou Kaapseweg which caused heavy congestion. Add to that the two new shopping centres in Sun Valley and Noordhoek which attracted even more traffic, including commercial delivery vehicles, and you have what Myburgh describes as the “Perfect Storm.”
Mayoral committee member for transport Brett Herron said the work would be undertaken in two contracts, the first of which was planned to start before the end of 2016 and finish by mid-2019, if all went according to plan.
WHAT DOES IT ENTAIL?
The upgrade of Kommetjie Main Road, between Ou Kaapseweg and a point just west of Capri Drive, to a four-lane dual-carriageway with shoulders/cycleways and pavements for pedestrians. It also includes the upgrade of Ou Kaapseweg between Kommetjie Main Road and a point just north of Noordhoek Road to a four-lane dual-carriageway, also with shoulders/cycleways and pavements for pedestrians as well as the upgrade of the Silvermine Road/Ou Kaapseweg intersection.
Regarding the ongoing Main Road rehabilitation, Herron said the stop/go system was expected to be in place until mid-September 2016, after which the remaining construction work could be carried out while maintaining two-way traffic.
“The provisional completion date is October/November 2017, pending bad weather and any unforeseen challenges.”
Source: IOL Motoring