Cape Town’s Urban Mobility Evolution: The Saxdowns Road Extension Project in Kuils River Spawns a New Age of City Transportation

3 mins read
urban mobility transportation

Cape Town is extending Saxdowns Road to improve traffic flow and promote sustainable modes of transportation. The project will include a single carriageway, sidewalks, and bicycle lanes, as well as a traffic signal, street lighting, and stormwater pipe. This comprehensive approach will ensure safety, efficiency, and environmental sustainability. The project is expected to be completed by the third quarter of 2025 and will bolster the residential area of Kuils River while setting a new benchmark for urban development in the region.

Cape Town’s Urban Mobility Directorate has launched an initiative to extend Saxdowns Road, which is expected to become a critical link road in the region’s transit system. The project will bolster the rapidly developing residential region of the city by establishing a single carriageway, universally accessible sidewalks, and bicycle lanes aimed at promoting healthier and eco-friendly modes of transportation. The comprehensive approach ensures that safety, efficiency, and environmental sustainability are embedded as key elements of the project. The project is slated for completion by the third quarter of 2025.

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Part 1: A New Chapter in Urban Mobility

Cape Town’s cityscape is in a constant state of flux. One striking illustration of this is the remarkable progress currently taking place in Kuils River. The Urban Mobility Directorate of the City of Cape Town has recently launched an audacious initiative, the extension of Saxdowns Road. Spanning from Langverwacht Road to Van Riebeeck Road, this bold endeavor is a crucial component of the City’s comprehensive Congestion Management Strategy. The central objective of this strategy is to alleviate the steadily increasing traffic congestion in the rapidly expanding Kuils River area.

The extension of Saxdowns Road is poised to function as a critical link road. Its strategic location, sandwiched between Bottelary Road in the north and Van Riebeeck Road in the south, earmarks this project to assume a central role in the region’s transit system. Over the past few weeks, thorough groundwork for the project has taken place, with actual road construction occurring from 07:30 to 17:30 on weekdays, and additional days being included as necessary.

Reflecting the City’s dedication to timeliness and efficiency, the project is slated for completion by the third quarter of 2025. Once finished, the single carriageway will complete the missing connection in Saxdowns Road, offering an essential road access and non-motorised transport infrastructure. This will bolster the rapidly developing residential region of the city.

Part 2: A Comprehensive Range of Improvements

The project is anticipated to bring about a host of enhancements. First and foremost, it will complete the arterial road network within the Kuils River area. As Councillor Rob Quintas, the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Urban Mobility, underscores, this feature is an integral part of the City’s overarching strategy to alleviate traffic congestion. The ultimate goal of the strategy is to minimize delays and facilitate smoother access by achieving a more balanced distribution of traffic flow.

However, the modifications are not confined to roads alone. The Saxdowns Road extension will establish a single carriageway stretching from Langverwacht Road in the north to Van Riebeeck Road in the south. It will also involve the duplication of the road at its junctions with Langverwacht Road and Van Riebeeck Road.

Moreover, the project involves the building of universally accessible sidewalks on either side of the newly extended Saxdowns Road. The addition of these pathways exemplifies the City’s dedication to fostering an inclusive urban environment for all its inhabitants.

Part 3: Promoting Sustainable and Inclusive Urban Mobility

The project will also incorporate the addition of bicycle lanes, an initiative aimed at promoting healthier and more eco-friendly modes of transport. These lanes stand as proof of the City’s commitment to nurturing a bicycle-friendly culture, a successful practice implemented by numerous global cities.

Furthermore, the project will encompass the installation of a traffic signal at the Van Riebeeck Road intersection, street lighting, and a large stormwater pipe along Van Riebeeck Road leading to the canal at Dumas Road. This comprehensive approach ensures that safety, efficiency, and environmental sustainability are embedded as key elements of the project.

As the project progresses, residents are advised to steer clear of the construction site. The City extends its appreciation to the residents for their cooperation and patience during this transformative phase.

Part 4: A Bright Future Ahead

While the project is currently in progress, further information regarding its progression and timeline will be shared in due course. This is merely the beginning of a series of improvements aimed at ameliorating the living conditions for the residents of Cape Town. As it unfolds, the Saxdowns Road extension promises to inject a renewed vitality into Kuils River, establishing a new benchmark for urban development in the region.

1. What is the Saxdowns Road Extension Project in Kuils River?

The Saxdowns Road Extension Project in Kuils River is a new initiative by Cape Town’s Urban Mobility Directorate to extend Saxdowns Road in order to improve traffic flow and promote sustainable modes of transportation.

2. When is the project expected to be completed?

The project is expected to be completed by the third quarter of 2025.

3. What are the key components of the project?

The project includes a single carriageway, sidewalks, and bicycle lanes, as well as a traffic signal, street lighting, and stormwater pipe. These comprehensive improvements ensure safety, efficiency, and environmental sustainability.

4. What is the ultimate goal of the Congestion Management Strategy?

The ultimate goal of the Congestion Management Strategy is to minimize delays and facilitate smoother access by achieving a more balanced distribution of traffic flow.

5. What other improvements will the project bring about?

The project will also establish a comprehensive arterial road network within the Kuils River area, duplicate the road at its junctions with Langverwacht Road and Van Riebeeck Road, and provide universally accessible sidewalks.

6. What is the City’s commitment to promoting sustainable and inclusive urban mobility?

The City is committed to promoting sustainable and inclusive urban mobility by incorporating the addition of bicycle lanes and ensuring safety, efficiency, and environmental sustainability are embedded as key elements of the project.

Isabella Schmidt is a Cape Town journalist who chronicles the city’s evolving food culture, from Bo-Kaap spice merchants to Khayelitsha microbreweries. Raised hiking the trails that link Table Mountain to the Cape Flats, she brings the flavours and voices of her hometown to global readers with equal parts rigour and heart.

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