Cape Town is set to make history with the construction of South Africa’s first-ever Sky Circle, an elevated traffic roundabout designed to enhance public transport infrastructure. The project forms part of the MyCiTi bus service expansion, which will connect Mitchells Plain and Khayelitsha with Wynberg and Claremont.
Traffic Disruptions Expected
The City of Cape Town has announced that construction will commence later this month, starting with the conversion of the signalised intersection at Govan Mbeki Road (M9) and Jan Smuts Drive (M17) in Lansdowne into a temporary traffic circle. This change is scheduled to take place over the weekend of 15–16 March 2025.
To facilitate this transformation, lane closures will be in effect from 13:00 on Saturday, 15 March, until 17:00 on Sunday, 16 March. Motorists are strongly advised to avoid this intersection during the weekend due to anticipated congestion and delays. Detour signs will be placed at key locations to help guide traffic around the construction site.
Key Features of the Sky Circle Project
The Sky Circle, a freestanding elevated roundabout, is expected to be a groundbreaking engineering achievement. Its construction will be visible to motorists as they navigate the temporary ground-level traffic circle below it. The overall project is projected to take approximately 18 months to complete, after which the intersection’s original signalised setup will be reinstated.
A temporary steel bridge with a height restriction of 4.3m will also be installed over the northbound carriageway of Jan Smuts Drive. This bridge is intended to provide safe passage for construction workers.
Read | FAW Trucks Gains Momentum in South Africa’s Competitive Trucking Market
Navigating the Temporary Traffic Circle
The four-way intersection will be reconfigured to accommodate vehicles travelling to and from Nyanga, Strandfontein, Wynberg, and Athlone. Motorists are urged to drive cautiously and take note of the following guidelines:
- Advance warning signage and flashing orange lights will indicate the upcoming traffic circle.
- Lane selection signage will be placed to help drivers choose the correct lanes in advance.
- A speed limit of 20km/h will be enforced within the traffic circle.
- Rumble strips will be installed at all four entry points to alert drivers and reduce speeds.
- Visibility within the roundabout will be limited due to scaffolding and construction work.
- Pedestrian crossings will be positioned safely away from the circle, with flag personnel guiding pedestrians.
Councillor Rob Quintas, the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Urban Mobility, emphasized the importance of patience and caution from road users.
“The metro-south east MyCiTi expansion is the biggest financial investment in public transport by any metro to date. The Sky Circle will be constructed on the traffic circle, meaning that every time road users and residents navigate it, they will witness the progress of this engineering achievement,” said Councillor Quintas.
He added that while traffic delays and inconveniences are expected, the long-term benefits of improved public transport infrastructure will be worth the temporary disruptions.
Once completed, the Sky Circle will serve as a key component in Cape Town’s transport network, improving connectivity for thousands of commuters. The City urges all road users to plan their journeys accordingly and to exercise patience and caution while the construction is underway.
For updates on road closures and project progress, residents are encouraged to stay informed through official City of Cape Town communication channels.
Do you have more on this story? Click to WhatsApp us. Anonymity guaranteed.
