Buitengracht Street, between Riebeek and Strand Streets, is to be temporarily closed over the next week to accommodate the building of a pedestrian bridge.

The closures, which will be conducted in off peak times (mostly overnight) to minimise disruption, are necessary in order to lift, place and assemble the bridge structure over the road. The closures commenced on Monday 15 March 2010 and will end on Sunday 28 March. The inbound (travelling in the direction of the mountain) and/or outbound (travelling in the direction of the Waterfront) carriageways will be closed as follows:

Date	Carriageway	Time
Saturday 20 March	Outbound	05:00 to 17:00
Sunday 21 March	Inbound	05:00 to 17:00
Tuesday 23 March	Inbound and outbound	19:00 to 05:00 (Wednesday)
Wednesday 24 March	Inbound and outbound	19:00 to 05:00 (Thursday)
Saturday 27 March	Inbound and outbound	05:00 to 17:00
Sunday 28 March	Inbound and outbound	05:00 to 17:00

During the closures, traffic coming down Buitengracht (outbound) will be deviated around the site and back onto Buitengracht via Strand Street, Chiappini Street and Somerset Road. Traffic moving up Buitengracht (inbound) will be deviated around the site and back onto Buitengracht via Riebeek, Bree and Strand Streets. Waterkant between Bree Street and Buitengracht will be closed to through traffic whenever Buitengracht inbound is closed. All deviation routes will be clearly sign posted. For a map of the detours, please click here. Motorists are urged to make use of alternative routes such as Long, Loop and Bree streets during these periods, or even to avoid the city centre completely, if possible, by taking the coastal route via Sea Point or circling to the east via Mill Street and either Buitenkant or Tennant Streets.

Pedestrians are urged to stay clear of the site and cross Buitengracht only at the existing pedestrian crossings at Riebeek and Strand Streets.

The City regrets the inconvenience.