The City of Cape Town has made significant progress on the Jan Smuts Drive upgrade project. This major road infrastructure project commenced in 2018 and is nearing completion. Jan Smuts Drive has been converted into a dual carriageway between the intersections of Turfhall Road (M24) and Govan Mbeki Road (M9), inclusive of two red bus lanes in the median. This projects forms part of the roll-out of Phase 2A of the MyCiTi bus service.
This section of Jan Smuts Drive covers a distance of approximately two kilometres, and is one of the key access routes to the M5 highway and Jakes Gerwel Drive from this area.
The City has invested R195 million into the construction work of this 32-month project which commenced in 2018.
The northbound carriageway of the road has now been completed so motorists are able to use the double carriageway in both the north and south directions.
In addition to converting Jan Smuts Drive into a dual carriageway, the City is also upgrading the two busiest intersections: Jan Smuts Drive with Turfhall Road and Jan Smuts Drive with Blomvlei Road; and creating a three metre-wide walking lane on both sides of the road for pedestrians and cyclists with the aim to improve pedestrian movement and safety along this busy route.
New signage and the installation of street lights along this stretch of road will also be installed.
‘Adding capacity to our existing road network remains to be one of our top priorities. I am so encouraged to see the great progress the team has made on Jan Smuts Drive especially since resuming work once the lockdown regulations allowed for it. These additional lanes will provide much relief to the traffic congestion in this area,’ said City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Transport, Alderman Felicity Purchase.
The project team is currently working on the stormwater pipe installation and layer works on both the southbound carriageway and the MyCiTi bus lane. The laying of red concrete on the bus lane is planned to take place in October and the bitumen on the traffic lane scheduled to be done in December 2020.
Due to the delays caused by the COVID-19 lockdown period, the new projected completion date is March 2021, if all goes as planned.
The new BRT lanes along Jan Smuts Drive form part of the incremental roll-out of Phase 2A of the MyCiTi service and will be of benefit to commuters travelling between the Cape Flats, Wynberg and Claremont area in future.