A proposal to partner with the University of Cape Town (UCT) to find creative ways to complete the unfinished highway on the city’s foreshore has been approved by the Portfolio Committee for Transport, Roads and Stormwater. It will soon be submitted to a full Council meeting for approval.

“Students in the Engineering and Built Environment Faculty at UCT will be required to develop a design brief to complete the unfinished highway,” said Councillor Brett Herron, Mayoral Committee Member for Transport, Roads and Stormwater.

The City would be represented in the partnership by the Executive Director for Transport, Roads and Stormwater Melissa Whitehead, and the University by the Dean of the Engineering and Built Environment Faculty, Professor Francis Petersen.

Students at UCT will be asked to review and consider existing proposed conceptual design reports of the incomplete sections of the Foreshore Freeway. They will then draft innovative design proposals for the incomplete sections of the Freeway taking into account its importance and critical function not only in improving access to the City, but also in improving living and working conditions for people in the CBD and surrounds.

The research will cover: 

• The economic, technical, structural and design viability and integrity of the potential completion of the incomplete highway 
  
• The investment and developmental potential 
  The infrastructure capacity 
  
• Financial modelling for a turnkey investment
  

To incentivise students, recognition for outstanding achievement will be awarded to the most innovative and integrated design concept produced.

The brief, drawn up by students, will then be put out to tender.

The partnership will formally be launched on Thursday, 18 October, as part of Transport Month. The work required from students will form part of their curriculum for the 2013 academic year, with a report back to the City due by August 2013. The City will aim to issue the chosen tender at the beginning of 2014.

“This exciting collaboration will enable us to decide the future of the highways and to take decisive steps to implement the most appropriate solution. The incomplete foreshore highways are prominent features of our City’s landscape and it is now time to resolve their future. If they are not to be completed, because there is no need, then there are many development or public space options that could add significant value to our City. We trust that the bright young minds of UCT’s Engineering and Built Environment faculty will find the best solution,” said Cllr Herron.