Cape Town - Severe traffic congestion in the far south of the city, has prompted the start of a new transport study to identify the worst congestion points south of the Silvermine mountain range, with the view to making plans for alleviating the situation in the longer term.
The study being conducted by the city’s transport authority Transport for Cape Town (TCT), will look at the current and future access needs within, to and from Muizenberg, St James, Kalk Bay, Clovelly, Fish Hoek, Sun Valley, Sunnydale, Noordhoek, Capri, Masiphumelele, Ocean View, Kommetjie, Misty Cliffs, Scarborough, Red Hill, Dido Valley and Da Gama, Simon’s Town, and Glencairn.
Information on the current land-uses of the area and the existing land-use development rights, which have not yet been exercised, is also being compiled because of the impact future developments will have on traffic volume and movement.
Last month, the city’s spatial planning, environment and land use committee (Spelum) rejected the approval of a development of 254 new houses on three connected sites in Kommetjie in part because there was no plan to deal with the heavy traffic over Ou Kaapseweg.
Last year, Mayco approved the development of 107 houses in the same area between Klein Slangkop and Kommetjie.
Comprehensive transport plan
Mayco member for transport Brett Herron said TCT’s new study, which will take at least eight months to complete, will be used to develop a comprehensive transport plan for the area.
The study will consider the capacity of the road network in the far south, taking into account the movement patterns of private vehicles, public transport and non-motorised transport such as walking and cycling.
The key focus routes for the study include Kommetjie Road, Main Road, Ou Kaapseweg, Chapman’s Peak Drive, the Glencairn Express Way, Main Road from Simon’s Town to Muizenberg, and Boyes Drive.
The pressure points of morning and afternoon peak-hour periods as well as those associated with the summer holiday season, will also form part of the research.
“Operational interventions to address these challenges in the short-term will be proposed once the study has been concluded and approved,” said Herron.
A draft version of the report should be available to the public early in the new year.
The new plan may make some recommendations for minor roads. The study is also looking at the constraints and potential capacity of the railway service to and from the area. Once completed, the final plan will be presented to the local sub-council in Fish Hoek for approval.
Cape Argus