Beat the traffic with new smart mobility congestion sign

16 May 2023

Heading to the Far South? The City’s Urban Mobility Directorate has installed an automatic congestion information display sign along the M3 highway to advise commuters about the expected travelling times to the southern suburbs via Main Road, Boyes Drive, and Ou Kaapse Weg. 

The automatic congestion information display (ACID) sign is located on the M3 highway, about half a kilometre from Steenberg Road. It is on the median and visible to commuters travelling towards the southern suburbs of Kalk Bay, Fish Hoek, St James, Noordhoek and Kommetjie.

'The routes to these coastal towns are often congested during the afternoon peak hour period when commuters are travelling home from work. Also, many visitors flock to these popular destinations over weekends and on public holidays. 

'The ACID sign informs commuters about the anticipated travelling times towards Kalk Bay via Main Road and Boyes Drive; as well as the travelling time towards Noordhoek and Kommetjie via Ou Kaapse Weg. The information is automatically updated every 15 minutes.

'I'm sure commuters will find this very useful to plan their journeys and to choose the best route to their destination, depending on what is happening on the road ahead. We know that only one incident can cause serious delays, thus by knowing in advance of possible congestion, the driver can opt to choose an alternative route,' said the City's Mayoral Committee Member for Urban Mobility, Councillor Rob Quintas.

The sign is fitted with an uninterruptible power supply system to ensure it remains functional up to level 4 of load-shedding.

The City is planning to also install an ACID sign at Clovelly to advise commuters about the travelling times towards the M3 highway via Main Road and Boyes Drive; and possibly at the intersection of Kommetjie Main Road and Ou Kaapse Weg in Noordhoek for those travelling towards the M3.

'The travel time information enables commuters to choose the best possible route to their destination, which means they can save fuel and time on the road. It will also assist in reducing congestion by balancing traffic volumes across three routes. This installation, the first to be rolled out across the city, is part of our mission to keep Cape Town moving and promote smart mobility for commuters who will have the information they need to move more efficiently around Cape Town,' said Councillor Quintas.  

Published by:
City of Cape Town, Media Office