The City of Cape Town has announced that it is making “excellent progress” with the construction of the freestanding elevated traffic circle at the intersection of Govan Mbeki Road (M9) and Jan Smuts Drive (M17) in Lansdowne.
The so-called “sky circle” is the first of its kind in South Africa, said the city, and is being constructed as part of the second phase of the MyCiTi bus rollout linking Khayelitsha, Mitchells Plain, and various other communities across the metro-south east.
It’s intended to ease congestion in the area and allow for the freer movement of MyCiTi buses during peak hours, allowing them to maintain a strict schedule.
First breaking ground in June 2022, the sky circle is currently around 50% completed and is expected to carry its first vehicles in early 2026.
“The free-standing elevated circle will be the first in South Africa, demonstrating civil engineering at its best, and we are so proud to see this happening right here, in Cape Town, as part of plans to be an even better future city with a population of well over five million,” said Cape Town Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis during an inspection on the progress of the sky circle.
“The metro-south east MyCiTi expansion is the biggest financial investment in public transport by any metro to date. We are working non-stop to improve our public transport service offering to Capetonians. This offering includes the expansion of the MyCiTi service footprint.”
6.2m sky circle
The elevated traffic circle at the intersection consists of a hollow circle raised 6.2m off the ground that will be exclusively for use of MyCiTi buses.
“By separating the MyCiTi buses from general traffic, the City will ensure the service operates optimally between Mitchells Plain and Khayelitsha and Wynberg and Claremont without being delayed by the traffic or congestion at the ground level of the intersection,” said Rob Quintas, the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Urban Mobility.
“This design will benefit MyCiTi commuters as it will reduce the travelling time to their destinations.”
The proposed Hanover Park closed median station is the closest MyCiTi station to this intersection and will serve commuters along the trunk route to operate along Govan Mbeki Road.
The station will be built at a later stage, closer to the implementation date of the service, said Quintas.
Other road users will also benefit from significant upgrades in the area.
The intersection at Govan Mbeki Road and Jan Smuts Drive experiences heavy congestion during peak hours with several enhancements earmarked for the crossing, including:
- Reconfiguration of the intersection
- Dedicated turning lanes
- Improved traffic signals
- Improved signalisation or sequencing
“Pedestrians and cyclists will benefit from dedicated lanes for walking and cycling along Govan Mbeki Drive and at the intersection, and streetlights will be installed to improve visibility and safety at night,” said Quintas.
Existing sewer, water, and stormwater infrastructure within the road reserve will also be relocated and upgraded, which means improved services to the surrounding communities.
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