Council gives green light for improvements to keep traffic moving along the M3 in Newlands
12 June 2024
The City of Cape Town’s Council earlier today approved changes to intersections along the M3 in Newlands to alleviate bottlenecks between Upper Hillwood Road on the top of Wynberg Hill and Newlands Avenue. The M3 is an important arterial road link between suburbs in the Southern Peninsula and the Cape Town central business district and carries a high volume of traffic on any given day.
The City’s Urban Mobility Directorate hosted two public participation processes – the first in 2022, and the second in November/December 2023 with revised proposals – where residents had the opportunity to comment on proposals to improve traffic flow along the M3. The proposals included the removal of two signalised intersections; implementation of three median closures and a road closure; and reinstating a signalised pedestrian crossing at Upper Hillwood Road in Bishopscourt.
‘The M3 is a strategic north-south freeway. Over the past three years or so, we have noted a significant increase in traffic and with the latest volumes, the section between Wynberg Hill and Newlands Avenue is almost in constant grid-lock with traffic seldom free flowing between six in the morning and seven in the evening, regardless of the day of the week. Those using the M3 are well aware of these constraints and frustrations.
‘In 2022, we hosted a first round of public participation about the proposed changes to assist with alleviating the bottlenecks along the M3 in the Newlands area in particular. We received nearly 400 comments, and used these to further fine-tune the proposals that we published in November 2023 for further public comment.
‘Now with Council’s approval, the Urban Mobility Directorate will proceed with its planning to start implementing the changes, and adding capacity where possible, to improve traffic flow so that commuters spend less time on the road. We anticipate the implementation to start in the first half of 2026 and will keep the public informed of this progress. I also want to thank all of those who participated by submitting their comments during the participation processes. We look forward to seeing Cape Town moving on the M3 with eased congestion,’ said the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Urban Mobility, Councillor Rob Quintas.
The following changes will be implemented along the M3 in Newlands:
- Closure of the median at the intersection of Fernwood Avenue, and removal of the traffic signal so that traffic can move freely through this section of the M3. This will mitigate the back-up of traffic at the Paradise Road intersection and meet the required minimum spacing for signalised intersections along a higher order road carrying high volumes of vehicular traffic
- To allow only a left into Fernwood Avenue from the M3 for traffic travelling in a northbound direction, meaning once implemented, traffic will only exit the M3 to Fernwood Avenue, but not enter the M3 from Fernwood Avenue
- Removal of the pedestrian crossing at Fernwood Avenue as pedestrians can cross the M3 at the Paradise Road intersection and at Newlands Avenue
- Closure of the median at Upper Torquay Avenue so that traffic travelling in a southbound direction along the M3 can no longer turn right into Upper Torquay. This is to prevent the backing up of traffic along this section caused by right turning vehicles, and also to improve road safety by removing an unsignalised intersection where right turning drivers have to take gaps in the heavy M3 traffic flow
- Traffic travelling in a northbound direction will be able to exit the M3 by turning left into Upper Torquay Avenue; similarly, those driving along Upper Torquay Avenue will be able to enter the M3 by turning left to travel northbound towards the city
- Closure of Upper Hillwood Road at the top of Wynberg Hill, implement a median closure, and remove the traffic signal at this intersection so that traffic can move freely along this section and over the hill
- To turn Upper Hillwood Road into a cul-de-sac that does not intersect with the M3, while retaining existing access to and from the corner property
- To reinstate a signalised pedestrian crossing at Upper Hillwood Road in Bishopscourt to accommodate pedestrians and cyclists crossing the M3.
Some intersection improvements will be implemented as part of the M3 upgrade project to help mitigate the impact of the above closures, amongst which:
- Implementing a free flow left-turn slip lane and an additional right-turn lane at the M3/Rhodes Avenue intersection for traffic travelling eastbound along Rhodes Avenue. This will improve the capacity at this intersection, in particular during the morning peak period for those travelling towards the city
- Including two dedicated east-bound right turn lanes on Rhodes Drive approach to mitigate the re-distribution of traffic from the partial Fernwood Road closure for those wishing to travel south-bound on the M3 to Claremont and beyond
- The Upper Bishopscourt Road intersection will be widened to accommodate two dedicated right turn lanes for those wishing to travel south-bound on the M3 to Claremont, Wynberg, and beyond.
The Urban Mobility Directorate will also add a third southbound lane between Rhodes Avenue and Upper Hillwood Road to accommodate traffic travelling from town towards the Southern suburbs. The budget for this improvement has been approved by Council, and includes upgrades to the side roads.
Published by:
City of Cape Town, Media Office
