From Monday 26 October, motorists using the R27 through Milnerton are encouraged to use Koeberg Road as an alternative route, as construction of the Integrated Rapid Transit (IRT) lanes requires a contraflow traffic system to be implemented.

In the section of the R27 between Boundary Road and Woodbridge Island, the private property on the side of the road does not allow enough space to construct a separate IRT lane in the outbound (northerly) direction. The outbound IRT vehicles will therefore be travelling in regular traffic for this short section of the road.

Due to space constraints in this section, motorists are warned to expect increased traffic congestion when construction of this new dual IRT lane begins on 26 October.

According to Kylie Hatton, City of Cape Town Media Manager, the City will need to construct a more robust lane using very thick asphalt that can handle the extra weight of the large, heavy IRT vehicles.

“The dual combined lane, for regular traffic and IRT vehicles, that will be reinforced is the current right lane – or fast lane – and it will be built to last for the next three decades at least.

“The City warns motorists that the construction will cause increased traffic congestion, and we advise motorists to use Koeberg Road as an alternative route during this period,” she said.

Hatton said it would take two months to complete the construction of this section.

She added that two lanes will be open in the inbound direction of the R27 towards the city until 9:30 to facilitate the morning peak traffic. Between 9:30 and 15:30 there will only be one lane open in that section in the outbound direction.

“To improve the afternoon peak traffic flow in the outbound direction, two lanes will be opened to motorists after 15:30,” said Hatton. “However, one of those lanes will be on the outbound carriageway and the other lane will be a temporary contraflow lane on the inbound carriageway. That means that one of the lanes motorists will use when travelling away from the city will be the same lane motorists used when travelling into the city that morning. During the afternoon peak there will be only one lane operating in the inbound direction.

“This contraflow system will result in motorists needing to slow down as they get used to travelling in the ‘wrong’ lane, and this will increase the likelihood of traffic jams.”

Hatton assured motorists that the area would be clearly sign posted.

“The contractor and the City of Cape Town have held regular meetings with the Milnerton Traffic Police to devise the best possible system to manage the traffic flow during the construction. We realise that this is not ideal but it is the best option available to us,” she said.

“We ask motorists to bear with us, and apologise for the inconvenience. Once the IRT system is up and running it will provide people with a safe, reliable and accessible public transport service.

“The IRT system will offer motorists a travelling alternative that does not have to negotiate traffic congestion as it will travel in an uncongested, dedicated IRT lane offering commuters a safer, faster and less expensive way of getting to their destinations.

“Key sections of the IRT public transport system will be operational by the World Cup, but it will continue to benefit Capetonians long after the tournament is over.

IRT construction on the R27 progressing well

The IRT construction along parts of the R27 and Marine Drive, which stretches from Atlantis to the CBD is progressing well.
The roadworks along the R27 are for the construction of dedicated lanes and stations from Blaauwberg Road in Table View to the CBD; for IRT vehicles and, on the pavement on the coastal side of the road, cycle and pedestrian lanes.

The R27 will be a trunk route for the IRT. Trunk routes will move people between major points, such as busy suburban areas, like Bayside, to the city centre. When the system is operational, IRT vehicles will travel regularly in their own dedicated red lanes on trunk routes in both directions.

The dedicated IRT lane enables vehicles using it to travel faster than other vehicles, particularly during the peak periods. During the peak periods an IRT vehicle will leave the stations every few minutes.

On the R27 the IRT lanes will be in the median (middle) of the road, the current fast lane. Once complete, the current left lane will become the right lane, while a new left lane and shoulder are being constructed.

On the coastal side of the road there will be a lane of trees separating motorised and non-motorised transport to improve the safety of pedestrians and cyclists. The non-motorised transport component of the IRT on the trunk route will provide dedicated pedestrian and cycle lanes.

On the trunk routes the IRT stations will also be in the middle of the road. There will be pedestrian access, via pedestrian crossings with preferential signalling for people crossing the road, to the IRT stations.

The dedicated IRT lanes on the R27 trunk route will run from the Bayside IRT station along the R27, stopping at 13 stations along the route into the city centre. This includes stations at Sunset Beach, Milnerton’s Racecourse Road, Woodbridge Island and Boundary Road.

Travelling towards the city the route will cross Milnerton bridge turning left at Milner Road, where it will travel along the old disused railway siding (which has been rebuilt to provide IRT lanes), through Paarden Eiland, stopping at stations along the way. The route will then follow the old railway line’s path, under the N1 and through Culemborg into one of the major stations at the Hertzog Boulevard Civic Centre station.

The City thanks residents on the West Coast and in the inner city for their patience during construction.