On Wednesday, 7 April 2021, Alderman Felicity Purchase, the City of Cape Town’s Mayoral Committee Member for Transport, visited the construction site to see the start of the rehabilitation of a 1,253 km stretch of Jafta K Masemola Road between Bonga Drive and Icelekwana Street in Khayelitsha.
The project is scheduled to take approximately 25 days to complete, pending unforeseen delays and inclement weather. Work will take place between 08:00 and 16:00.
The City is investing approximately R8,5 million on this road in the heart of Khayelitsha.
The work entails removing the old asphalt and replacing it with a new layer.
‘This upgrade is implemented in line with our commitment to delivering basic services that will improve the lives of our residents. The Transport Directorate is working around the clock, on roads across the city, to improve infrastructure. We are doing as much as we can, and I want to assure residents all over Cape Town that we are addressing road maintenance in a systemic, and planned manner.
‘The surface of this specific road is currently in a poor condition, mainly because of grey water being thrown on the road. Although we do our best to keep Cape Town’s roads durable and safe, I urge residents to please refrain from using our roads to dispose of water as this goes against our efforts. Water poses the biggest threat to road surfaces and undermines the infrastructure to a point where it is no longer safe to use. Once completed, the resurfaced stretch of road will give motorists a better driving experience, while keeping residents and pedestrians out of danger,’ said the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Transport, Alderman Felicity Purchase.
Furthermore, residents must note that lane closures will be implemented and traffic will be controlled by a stop-and-go system. Traffic moving in both directions will be affected and flag personnel will regulate traffic flow. Should lane closures not provide safe working space, temporary road closures will be in place and where detours are required, detour signage will direct motorists.
Residents are also reminded not to park their vehicles in a manner that will obstruct the resurfacing operation as this will interfere with the works and could lead to unnecessary delays. Also, dusty conditions are to be expected, and motorists are cautioned that bitumen splashes on vehicle bodies are difficult to remove. Therefore, they must please comply with the traffic arrangements and/or signage of the appointed contractor.
‘Congestion is to be expected and it is recommended that road users consider alternative routes. We understand that roadworks come with a level of inconvenience, and we urge all to be patient with us during the construction period. We thank you in advance for your cooperation and patience,’ said Alderman Purchase.