City warns of traffic delays

The City’s R19 million road repairs on Peter Barlow Drive, which started on Monday October 17, are due to run until March next year.

Transport for Cape (TCT), the City’s transport authority, will rebuild 1km of the dual carriageway between the intersections with Kasselsvlei Road and the Tienie Meyer Bypass off Strand Road (R102). Residents and road users should brace for traffic delays during the construction period, warned the City.

“Peter Barlow Drive is one of the most important arterial routes in Bellville, with a significant number of commuters travelling along this road to get to Parow and the adjacent industrial areas.

“The road has now reached a stage where we cannot hold off on a major refurbishment any longer,” said Brett Herron, mayoral committee member for transport.

“The road surface is cracked and potholes will soon appear, meaning it will not withstand another rainy season.”

Motorists on Peter Barlow Drive will have to use Brug and Molecule streets to access Elektron Street, until the end of November, if all goes as planned.

Mr Herron said the City would try to limit inconvenience to road users by rebuilding one lane at a time, so that there would always be three out of the four lanes available. And two lanes would be made available in the direction with the worst traffic to ease peak volumes.

This means two southbound lanes will be available to morning peak-hour traffic and two northbound lanes will be open for the afternoon grind. TCT will also rebuild the intersection with Kasselsvlei Road, but this phase will only start in November, with much of the work happening over weekends.

“We will also build new walkways along both sides of Peter Barlow Drive – these will be 2.5m wide and thus wide enough to accommodate both pedestrians and cyclists,” said Mr Herron.

“I want to urge motorists to please adhere to the road signs during the construction period, to be patient, and to expect longer travelling times. We will try our best to complete this project as soon as possible.”

Road users can phone the Transport Information Centre (TIC) at all hours at 0800 65 64 63.