Construction of the new bridges for the road improvements at Hospital Bend is reaching its final stages.

The huge gantry at the new De Waal Drive Bridge over the outbound lanes of Eastern Boulevard at the top of Hospital Bend, which has been used to support a portion of the bridge during its construction, has to be removed now. To avoid disrupting traffic, this will be done over four nights a week for the next four weeks.

From Sunday night, 9 August, to Wednesday night, 12 August, and from 23:00 each night to 05:00 the next morning for the following three weeks, Eastern Boulevard city-bound only will be closed to all traffic at the top of Hospital Bend.

Alternative routes

Traffic can proceed along De Waal Drive to the city or, alternatively, get back onto Eastern Boulevard towards the city via Upper Roodebloem Road. This is accessible via an existing break in the separation between the opposing carriageways of De Waal Drive about 1 km after the De Waal Drive – Eastern Boulevard split.

Detours will be clearly marked, and officers from Cape Town Traffic Services will be in attendance to assist the public.

Traffic travelling away from the city centre will not be affected.

To date, all night time detours have been very effective, with minimal disruption to the public. The City and the contractor thank the public for their patience and support during the closures thus far.

The Hospital Bend upgrade, which will dramatically ease traffic flow onto the N2 and southern suburbs, includes the widening of carriageways, the construction of new bridges, the rehabilitation of the existing roadway and improvements to stormwater drainage and street lighting.