Transport for Cape Town, the City of Cape Town’s transport authority, has commenced with the construction of universally accessible walkways and cycle lanes along seven major roads in the south of the city.

‘A significant number of residents walk between their houses, public transport modes and workplaces. The purpose of walkways is to provide pedestrians with a safe route (in terms of road safety) where there will be little, if any, conflict between vehicular movement and pedestrian movement. 

 

 

'The importance of non-motorised transport (NMT) projects is demonstrated through the latest household survey – up to 26 000 households across the metro participated in 2012 – which found that up to 33% of low-income households in Cape Town walk to work or school or social amenities,’ said the City’s Mayoral Committee Member: Transport for Cape Town, Councillor Brett Herron.

 

NMT forms an integral part of the City of Cape Town’s integrated transport network plan and is aimed at improving the safety of our most vulnerable road users, chief among them those who walk or cycle to their destinations, or make use of the roads for recreational activities.

 

The NMT project is valued at approximately R66,5 million and will greatly benefit commuters using passenger rail in the vicinity of Kendal Road, Ladies Mile Road, Tokai Road and Steenberg Road.

 

 

‘The walkways and cycle lanes will pass through several suburbs including Meadowridge, Bergvliet, Tokai, Steenberg and Westlake. Importantly, some of the new infrastructure will also be in proximity to railway stations along Main Road such as Diep River, Heathfield, Retreat and Steenberg, to provide commuters with safe access to their destinations. I am confident that commuters will benefit greatly from these improvements once the project is completed,’ said Councillor Herron.

 

The work is already under way and entails the construction of walkways, cycle lanes and landscaping along the following routes:

The walkways and cycle lanes will be constructed along both sides of the roads, subject to the availability of space and other obstructions such as low-water bridges and the bridges over the M3 freeway. 

The completion date for the project is June 2017, if all goes according to plan.