Jakes Gerwel Drive open to traffic over festive season
12 December 2025
The City’s Urban Mobility Directorate wants to inform road users that Jakes Gerwel Drive will be open to traffic during the festive season, including the section between the intersections with Viking Way and Voortrekker Road that is currently being rehabilitated.
The rehabilitation of Jakes Gerwel Drive, one of Cape Town’s most important north-south arterial routes that links the N1 and the N2, started in January this year. The section between Voortrekker Road (R102) and Viking Way in Epping in particular, carries significant volumes of traffic with many heavy vehicles travelling to and from the harbour, airport, and industrial areas.
This massive investment in the rehabilitation works is needed to prolong the lifespan of Jakes Gerwel Drive.
Arrangements for the festive season:
- The contractor will pause work during the builders’ break from 12 December 2025 and will resume work on 6 January 2026.
- All of the lanes will be open to traffic during the builders’ break
- The contractor will ensure that the lanes, including those that are being rehabilitated, are safe for use
- If all goes as planned, the rehabilitation of Jakes Gerwel Drive will be complete by the end of April 2026
Progress update:
- The rehabilitation of the northbound slow lane between Viking Way and Voortrekker Road has been completed
- The rehabilitation of the southbound fast lane between Voortrekker Road and Viking Way has been completed
- The northbound link between Viking Way and Voortrekker Road has been completed
- The southbound link between Voortrekker Road and Viking Way is still under construction
Context of the rehabilitation work
- The rehabilitation of Jakes Gerwel Drive is taking longer than other road rehabilitation projects given the road’s age and existing structure
- Heavy vehicle traffic and traffic volume caused extensive damage over time
- The lower layers of the existing road are removed; and replaced with granular material that is strengthened with cement to create a durable, long-lasting foundation
- The cement layers take at least seven days to dry and harden, and only once this process has been concluded, the additional layers can be applied
‘I want to thank each and every commuter and road user who have travelled along this section of Jakes Gerwel Drive over the past 12 months for their patience. As much as we have tried to limit the impact, we are well aware of the inconvenience, congestion, and frustration the work has caused. However, this project is essential to prolong the lifespan of the arterial route, and the investment will ensure we all can keep on using this road for decades to come. The contractor will resume work on 6 January, and if all goes as planned, the project will be concluded by April 2026,’ said the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Urban Mobility, Councillor Rob Quintas.
Published by:
City of Cape Town, Media Office
