Ravensteyn and Fiskaal section opened 22 September

From: Ian Bowker
Sent: 08 October 2015 03:55 PM
Subject: Camps Bay drive update 8 October 2015

Good afternoon

As promised, herewith an update on progress.

The section between Ravensteyn and Fiskaal was opened to public two-way traffic on the evening of 22 September, a day earlier than we had hoped for. I think this has helped a lot. It was a great effort by the contractor to get this done when they did and I have thanked them for doing this.

The final asphalt surfacing on the bulk (Geneva to Rontree) has started. They hope to have all the asphalt completed on this section by the end of October 2015. In addition to this I have asked the contractor (at Byron’s request) to try to prioritise the section between Geneva and Fiskaal in order to remove the stop/go and take away the need to detour via Prima and Ravensteyn to get to Fiskaal. They said it was something they could try to do. I will try to give an update next week again as to how this is progressing.

Most of the issues causing the delays in the section between Rontree and Houghton have now been sorted out and we are aiming to have the entire road open by the end of November 2015. Unfortunately, the Rontree to Houghton section will be the last to be completed. The current traffic accommodation status quo will remain until completion (i.e. stop/go between Rontree and Hove, one way towards Houghton from Hove and detour via Hove from Houghton to get to Rontree)

Regardless of which sections may be opened earlier for residents, the detour signs at Geneva will remain in place until the entire road is opened again.

We have a few concerns regarding safety on site, especially when opening road sections slightly early (before all work is completed) to accommodate resident access. It has been noted that there is a lot of speeding on the section between Ravensteyn and Fiskaal. This was noted as a concern by the contractor when I asked if they could open other sections earlier too. It was also reported as a problem by the external safety auditor. We still have to do a fair amount of cleaning of the site and all the street light cables and street lights still need to be installed along the full length. This means that there will still be work taking place along the sections of road that we are trying to open early.

Please, for everybody’s safety, respect that workers on the side of the road are in danger and adhere to the 40 km/h speed limits through the construction sites. We really want to avoid a tragedy on this site. Please, again, adhere to, or go slower than the 40km/h construction speed limit signs.     

Thanks again for your continued understanding throughout this project.

Kind regards,

Ian Bowker

Head: Pavement Materials and Rehabilitation

17^th Floor, Civic Centre

12 Hertzog Blvd, Cape town

Tel: 021 400 2985

Fax to email: 0862012585

Email: ian.bowker@capetown.gov.za