The City of Cape Town’s Transport and Urban Development Authority yesterday commenced its road upgrade project on the main road running through Somerset West.
Approximately 1.5 kilometres of Onverwacht Road will be extended across the N2 to Sir Lowry’s Pass Road, while a 0.5-kilometre stretch of Sir Lowry’s Pass Road will be converted into a dual carriageway.
“The Somerset West area is expanding and there are new developments, therefore more road infrastructure is required to accommodate the increase in traffic volumes and further development in the area,” said MMC for transport and urban development, councillor Brett Herron.
“The road will be user-friendly and less congested because it will offer easy access in and out of the area.”
MMC for Area East, councillor Anda Ntsodo, noted that there would be no road closures but that traffic would be diverted to ensure an easy flow. Roadworks are expected to be completed by the end of December 2019.
New arrestor bed
Meanwhile, the Department of Transport and Public Works (DTPW) recently completed a R11 million project to construct a new slipway and truck arrestor bed at the bottom of Sir Lowry’s Pass near the intersection of the N2 and Sir Lowry’s Pass Road. This arrestor bed, the first to have been constructed by the Western Cape Government, makes this busy road route safer for all road users. The project started in January 2018 and has been successfully completed within its expected time-frame.
The N2 was widened to a maximum of 13 metres along the affected stretch and the addition of an 850 metre slipway and arrestor bed. The project included fencing, barrier kerbs, storm water pipe installation, culvert construction, and the extension of layerworks.
A total of R543 910 was spent on targeted enterprises, and 3 559 person-days of work were created for people from Sir Lowry’s Pass Village.
The high-quality road infrastructure that DTPW provides is an important component of a safe and effective transport system, and an enabler of economic and social development in the Western Cape.
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