Upgrade of Muizenberg beachfront to commence next week
29 January 2025
The City of Cape Town wants to alert the public that the refurbishment of the Muizenberg beachfront will commence next week. The contractor will establish the site camp and work areas as from Monday, 3 February 2025, and effect the closure of the impacted sections on the western side of Surfer’s Corner the following week, if all goes as planned. The informal gravel parking area next to the railway line will be closed to the public, as will access to and from the St James Walkway from Surfer’s Corner. Joggers and walkers wanting to access the walkway will be redirected with detour signage to and from the underpass at Bailey’s Cottage and the rail level crossing at the beachfront. Read more below:
The refurbishment of the Muizenberg beachfront entails major upgrades to public amenities and replacing the aged seawalls. The project will be done in phases over a two-year period with the first work to commence on the western side of Surfer’s Corner, next to the railway line and shortly after on the small eastern parking area at the Muizenberg Civic Centre.
• The surf and beach itself will remain open and accessible at all times, however, work areas will be cordoned off as needed in the interest of public safety
• General work will take place from Monday to Saturday, from 07:00 to 17:00
• Some work may happen after hours, depending on the tides and the stage of the project
‘We will try our best to mitigate the impact on the local community and users, still, a project of this magnitude will cause inconveniences. First off, visitors will have to cope with less parking as we will be closing the informal gravel parking area at the western side of Surfer’s Corner during the first phase of the project. In addition, pedestrians will have to take a detour to access the popular St James Walkway while work is happening along this section of the beachfront.
‘I kindly request the public to adhere to the signage, to avoid the work areas and to keep their pets away from the working sites as this is in the interest of safety. We are counting on the support and collaboration of our local community and visitors. I also want to thank all stakeholders in advance for their understanding, and encourage residents, local businesses, and other interested parties to join the available forums for regular updates and where concerns can be addressed,’ said the City’s Deputy Mayor and Mayoral Committee Member for Spatial Planning and Environment, Alderman Eddie Andrews.
What to expect over the next two weeks and beyond:
• The contractor will get access to the site on Monday, 3 February 2025. Following the site handover, the contractor will establish its site ancillaries near the waterslides at the junction of Royal and Beach Roads – this includes the construction site offices, storage containers, installation of temporary fencing and signage at the site camp, and the arrival of construction plant and equipment to the work areas at Surfer’s Corner
• Preliminary hand excavations to locate the existing underground services and foundations will commence from Monday, 10 February 2025, on the western side of Surfer’s Corner; thereafter the services will be realigned in the informal gravel parking area, and then the construction of the rock revetment at the start of the St James Walkway will commence
• The informal gravel parking area along the railway line will be closed to the public, and fenced off
• The small parking area located behind the Muizenberg Civic Centre will also be impacted early on during construction, and be temporarily closed to the public
• There will be no access to the St James Walkway from Surfer’s Corner. Signage will be in place to redirect users to the detour to and from the railway underpass at Bailey’s Cottage and the rail level crossing at the beachfront
• Construction vehicles will be travelling to and from the construction area to deliver materials on a daily basis
• Dust, noise, and traffic delays associated with construction work should be anticipated
‘This area will be a beehive of activity with construction vehicles driving up and down Beach Road. There will be congestion and holdups as traffic flow will be impacted. Best is for visitors to park elsewhere within the vicinity of the beachfront and try avoid Beach Road itself on busy days,’ said Alderman Andrews.
How to stay informed
• Public information displays with details about the upgrade have been installed at various points at the Muizenberg beachfront, these include artist impressions of the refurbishment and design
• Scan the QR code to sign up for updates, and more information about the project
• Sign up by using the following link: https://forms.office.com/r/8rARD9z8SM
• Send an email to muizenberg@chand.co.za
Caption: Visitors are advised to consider alternative parking in the vicinity of the beachfront on busy days, given that the informal gravel parking area on the western side of Surfer’s Corner will be closed to the public for a few months, starting 10 February 2025. The map indicates some of the alternatives, as well as the approximate walking distances to the beachfront.
End
Published by:
City of Cape Town, Media Office
