The City of Cape Town’s Mayoral Committee Member for Transport, Councillor Rob Quintas, went on a site visit to the CBD to monitor the progress on the construction of the new facilities and the rehabilitation of existing infrastructure for pedestrians. The works commenced in mid-August 2021.
The project is scheduled to be implemented over a period of 24 months with the completion date expected to be 30 June 2022, pending unforeseen delays and inclement weather.
The works form part of the implementation of the City’s non-motorised–transport (NMT) master plan and includes the placing of new barrier kerbs; edgings; dropped kerbs and ramps for pedestrians in wheelchairs and tactile tiles for the blind, and provision of additional space for prams and others with special needs.
This project focuses on 34 streets in the CBD ranging from St John’s Street all the way to Old Marine Drive. These include:
- St John’s Street
- Plein Street
- Hope Street
- Roeland Street
- Drury Street
- Constitution Street
- Tennant Street
- Caledon Street
- Darling Street
- Keizersgracht
- Sir Lowry’s Street
- Oswald Pirow Street
- Buitekant Street
- Canterbury Street
- Upper Canterbury Street
- Lower Plein Street
- Parliament Street
- Barrak Street
- Parade Street
- Harrington Street
- De Villiers Street
- Bloemhof Street
- Bouquet Street
- McKenzie Street
- Mount Street
- Primrose Street
- Vernon Street
- De Roos Street
- Corporation Street
- Old Marine Drive
- Commercial Street
- Albertus Street
- Stirling Street
- De Villiers Ave
Previous phases of the project focused on the North West and South West portions of the Cape Town CBD.
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‘This project speaks to the City’s strategic pillars of a safe, caring and inclusive City as well as to one of our key objectives of promoting the use of public and non-motorised forms of transport. It seeks to create universal access and ensure that the many pedestrians moving around the CBD get to places of work, schools, businesses, among others, and are able to do so safely. This Transport Month we want to highlight the great need for safe walkways within the CBD and encourage the public to walk to their destinations, especially during the day. I believe the new walkways will provide commuters with enough comfort to make this their preferred mode of commuting while doing business, attending school or exploring attractions in town,’ said the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Transport, Councillor Rob Quintas.
In terms of the rehabilitation of the existing non-motorised facilities, paved areas are replaced with new brick paved surfacing. All relevant road markings and road signs will also be replaced.
It is important to note that the contractor’s work area is limited in order to minimise disruptions to local residents, traffic and pedestrians.
‘That said, there will be some inconvenience and we want to thank all for their ongoing support and patience. This is an important project as it will greatly improve pedestrian safety,’ said Councillor Quintas.
The City also ensures that access to buildings will be maintained at all times during construction.
The contractor’s working hours are from 07:00 am to 17:30, and although no road closures are anticipated, the contractor may request this if the need arises.
