​Since the commencement of the Belhar Main Road extension project the contractor has finalised the stormwater installation; road excavation and the layer works required. Next, will be the bulk water pipeline re-routing, kerbing, further layer works, as well the asphalt surfacing and street lighting.

The City plans to commence with the construction of two new roundabouts along Belhar Main Road and therefore needs to construct two temporary bypasses as agreed during the public participation prior to the commencement of the works. The bypasses are necessary for public safety and to ensure the safety of the workers on site.

Temporary closures are required at two points along Belhar Main Road to allow for the reconstruction of the T-Intersections at Highbury Drive and Stellendale Avenue as roundabouts. The following bypasses are therefore required:

• Bypass one: to connect Excelsior and Sidego Crescents with Belhar Main Road.
• Bypass two: to connect Stellendale Avenue via Sunvalley Road (passing the Caltex Service Station forecourt) with Belhar Main Road

These bypasses will be in operation for approximately five months and will be regulated by traffic signs and highly reflective and high visibility concrete balustrades across Belhar Main Road to obviate drive-through events.

‘We once again would like to thank residents and motorists for their patience while the construction works are underway. Our aim is to provide some congestion relief and improve overall access to this area.

We understand that these roadworks come with a degree of inconvenience, but we are appealing to all commuters to please adhere to the signage and to adhere to the applicable speed limits along these bypasses,’ said the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Transport, Alderman Felicity Purchase.

The contractor will only close these intersections once the bypasses are complete.

Residents must please note that due to the planned construction of water related works the water supply pressure in this region will drop at some stage and will result in a lower flow of water from taps. The commencement date of these works has not been finalised, however we aim to have the water works completed before the end of September.

The overall construction project is expected to take another 12 months, if all goes as planned. Work will continue to take place on weekdays from 07:00 till 17:00 and on some Saturdays.

The project will link Highbury Road to the Stellenbosch Arterial by extending Belhar Main Road from Highbury Road up to Stellendale Road in Kuils River.

Some notable facts about the project:

• the budget for this project is approximately R49 million
• the new road will cover a distance of 1,45 km
• there will be surfaced sidewalks along the entire length of the road
• traffic flow will be guided by four traffic circles
• the new road will be a duelled carriageway from Stellenbosch Arterial to the first traffic circle at Stellendale Road, and thereafter as a single carriageway road

End