All hands on deck to manage cruise liner congestion
11 March 2025
With a number of cruise liners docking this week, including two on the same day, the City advises the public to expect increased traffic congestion. The increased nautical traffic is a boon to Cape Town’s economic prospects, so every effort is being made to minimise the traffic impact.
Increased traffic volumes are anticipated on Wednesday, when both the MSC Musica and the Norwegian Dawn drop anchor in Cape Town Harbour.
The vessels, carrying just over 5 000 passengers and 2 000 crew members, will arrive between 05:00 and 06:00 on Wednesday morning, 12 March 2025, and depart again from 16:00 in the afternoon.
The City is working closely with the V&A Waterfront to mitigate traffic impacts, particularly on and around Nelson Mandela Boulevard, FW De Klerk Boulevard and Buitengracht Street; however, motorists are urged to:
• Plan alternative routes around the Waterfront area during peak times
• Factor in additional time for travel over this period
• Limit non-essential travel in the CBD area
• Consult the various online navigation tools to find the best route to their destinations
• Exercise patience, and refrain from blocking intersections
Passengers who are scheduled to board are advised to please arrive early, and to use the Christiaan Barnaard and Marine Drive entrances to the docks instead of the general Waterfront access routes, to help alleviate the impact on other road users.
‘Our Traffic Service is collaborating with other City services and the V&A Waterfront to reduce traffic congestion. We will have officers conducting point duty, particularly to prevent the blocking of intersections, which is arguably one of the chief irritations for other motorists and contributes to the gridlock. Where possible, please avoid the precinct on the day. If you must travel in these areas, please be patient, courteous and abide by the rules of the road and the instructions of staff on the ground,’ said the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security, Ald JP Smith.
‘Cape Town’s status as a top global destination comes with inevitable spikes in traffic congestion, particularly during peak tourism periods. While this is a positive reflection of our city’s appeal, we recognise the challenges it can create for road users. The City’s Urban Mobility Directorate is working closely with all stakeholders, including other City departments, to manage the impact and keep people moving as efficiently as possible. However, we need the cooperation of all motorists - please follow the rules of the road, avoid creeping into intersections, and be mindful that blocking intersections only worsens congestion for everyone. Thoughtful and responsible driving will go a long way in ensuring smoother traffic flow for all,’ said Cllr Rob Quintas, the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Urban Mobility.
The City’s Traffic Signal Operators will monitor conditions on Nelson Mandela Boulevard, FW De Klerk Boulevard and Buitengracht Street closely on Wednesday. Operators will use CCTV cameras to pinpoint the location and extent of vehicle queues throughout the day and activate appropriate signal timing plans to best manage these queues. The aim is to accommodate heavy traffic flows into the CBD, while also accommodating motorists who are leaving the area. Operators will be in constant contact with Cape Town Traffic Services and operations personnel at the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront. Where appropriate, variable message signs of the Cape Town Freeway Management System will be used to alert motorists to areas of congestion on roadways.
Alderman James Vos, the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Economic Growth, said Cape Town has been experiencing one of its busiest tourism seasons ever.
‘This is the result of years of hard work with City partners to position Cape Town as a globally-connected destination.
‘Cape Town is still in its peak visitor period with 76 ship calls now scheduled for the 2024/25 season. This is in addition to the Cape Town International Airport still processing 217 international flights per week going to 31 destinations.
‘Data gathered by Wesgro from the 2023-24 season shows that cruise passengers, vessels, and crew from 67 ship calls generated R1,5 billion in expenditure and supported 1 965 jobs across sectors like retail, hospitality, and tourism services,’ said Alderman Vos.
End
Published by:
City of Cape Town, Media Office
