Roadworks in Camps Bay Drive

The City of Cape Town will be undertaking major roadworks along Camps Bay Drive this winter. The road will be closed for general traffic as from Monday, 20 April 2015. Residents and visitors should expect major traffic delays along the alternatives routes to and from Camps Bay. 

Camps Bay Drive has not been refurbished for the past 30 years. This major upgrade will significantly improve the road condition and safety for road users and cannot be postponed any longer. 

‘The roadworks will unfortunately cause significant delays and inconvenience. I therefore want to urge road users to familiarise themselves with the alternative routes well in advance. About 14 000 vehicles travel along Camps Bay Drive every day and commuters will have to be accommodated on other roads to enter or exit Camps Bay. It is therefore very important to expect delays and to take this into account when planning your journey,’ says the City’s Mayoral Committee Member: Transport for Cape Town, Councillor Brett Herron.

Transport for Cape Town, the City’s transport authority, will spend approximately R20 million on this project that is to be concluded by the end of September this year if everything goes according to plan. 

The project entails the following:

• Camps Bay Drive will be widened by 1,4 metres on the Table Mountain side between Geneva Drive and Rontree Avenue
• The centre line of Camps Bay Drive will be shifted by 0,7 metres, effectively widening each lane by 0,7 metres
• The road surface will be improved by removing the top surface (25 cm) and replacing it with recycled material and asphalt
• Some of the sharp corners along Camps Bay Drive will be slackened to allow for the safe passage of buses in opposite directions
• There will be no widening of the road between Rontree Avenue and Houghton Road, but the road surface will be rehabilitated along this part of Camps Bay Drive
• The damaged culvert on Victoria Road in Bakoven will be replaced and this will require a stop-and-go controlled traffic accommodation at this section of the road

As stated above, Camps Bay Drive will be closed for general traffic for the duration of this project. Stop-and-go control points will be in operation between Geneva Drive and Prima Avenue and Houghton Drive and Rontree Avenue to give access to residents who live in the vicinity of the roadworks.

Commuters can make use of Geneva Drive as an alternative route to enter or exit Camps Bay.



‘Residents will have first-hand experience of the benefits once this project is completed. Not only will Camps Bay Drive be wider, but the road surface will be smooth and the bends will not be nearly as sharp as is currently the case – making the road safer for all of us. I want to urge road users to be patient and to please obey the signboards during the construction period. We can alleviate the worst inconvenience if we plan ahead,’ says Councillor Herron.

Avoid traffic congestion by steering clear of City of Cape Town road improvement areas

Starting on Monday, 20 April 2015 the City of Cape Town will be closing Camps Bay Drive to general traffic to begin major roadworks including resurfacing and widening of the road in certain sections, and general repairs to make the road safer. These long overdue improvements will ease traffic congestion to and from Camps Bay when completed in September 2015.

In the meantime, it’s going to be difficult to get to and from Camps Bay, and residents and visitors alike will have to adjust their routes and exercise some patience when heading to their destination.

So how do you get to Camps Bay without taking Camps Bay Drive?

ALTERNATIVE ROUTES TO USE DURING THE CAMPS BAY DRIVE CLOSURE

The City of Cape Town suggests using Geneva Drive as an alternative route, but with stop-and-go control points in place to give residents access to their homes along this route, congestion will be a concern. Coming from Cape Town CBD, the simplest routes to take would be either Kloof Road or the M6.

Coming from Cape Town CBD along Kloofnek Road (M62), Kloof Road is your best option:

• Turn right onto Kloof Road at the junction where you could turn left to get to the Table Mountain Cableway, or back to go towards Signal Hill.
• Follow the winding road past The Round House to the first junction and take a sharp left onto Lower Kloof Road. Lower Kloof merges with Victoria Road, which runs along the Camps Bay beachfront.
• Please note: Kloof Road is quite narrow, lacks a significant shoulder and is very popular with joggers and cyclists. Exercise caution!

Coming from Sea Point / Green Point, the M6 provides access to Camps Bay along a lovely scenic route:

• Take Beach Road (M6) along the Sea Point promenade, which merges with Victoria Road and runs along Fresnaye and Bantry Bay to Camps Bay.
• Alternatively, take Main Road (M61) through Sea Point. Keep right at the eventual fork to join Regent Road, and turn left at the junction with Victoria Road.

TIPS

1. Add a minimum of 30 minutes to your estimated driving time when heading to Camps Bay to ensure that you reach your destination timeously. During peak traffic times it would probably be best to leave a travel window of between 45 minutes and an hour depending on the route.
2. Making your way towards Chapman’s Peak, Noordhoek or Kommetjie? Take the road less travelled and enjoy the beautiful drive through Muizenberg and Kalk Bay or along Ou Kaapse Weg.

So plan your journey carefully and exercise some patience when and if you’re stuck in traffic as you travel these alternate routes.

Click on the images below to enlarge