South Africa’s first “Sky Circle” is one step closer to completion, as construction is scheduled to begin this weekend.
The building area is located at the signalized intersection at Govan Mbeki Road (M9) and Jan Smuts Drive (M17) in Lansdowne, Cape Town, and motorists are advised to plan alternate routes to avoid the anticipated traffic delays.
Years in the making
Work on Cape Town’s innovative Sky Circle has been going on for yearly two years, with contractors breaking ground in June 2022.
The early stages of the project involved prepping the area for the new circle, removing obstacles and relocating existing infrastructure.
The last major development was announced in late January, when the City of Cape Town confirmed that the project had officially reached the halfway point with the relocation of the underground services below the site, and the completion of the eastern and western ramps that will link to the finished structure.
Construction of the circle itself will now begin in earnest, as the city is moving in the equipment needed to work on the elevated platform.
A large crane will be installed at the centre of the existing intersection between the M9 and the M17 on Saturday, 15 March 2025, and a temporary steel bridge will be erected over the northbound carriageway of the M17 to create a safe passageway for construction workers.
The steel bridge will have a height of 4.3 metres, and is set to remain in place for the remainder of the project’s estimated 18-month duration.
To facilitate the ongoing construction efforts, the signalized intersection will turned into a temporary traffic circle this weekend.
Lane closures will be in effect from 13h00 on 15 March until 17h00 in 16 March while the conversion takes place, and a speed limit of 20km/h will be enforced within the traffic circle.
The city will also erect detour signs guiding motorists to alternate routes to avoid the area.
Pedestrian crossings are being placed at a safe distance from the Sky Circle and will have flag personnel on hand to stop the traffic and let users pass safely.
Additionally, rumble strips and warning signs are being installed along the roads to give motorists advanced warning of the site, as there will be scaffolding and other obstructions that require drivers to advance cautiously.
Importantly, the intersection will continue to function as a circle until the Sky project is completed, whereupon it will be reverted to its original state.
A big undertaking
Cape Town’s new Sky Circle is the first of its kind in South Africa, and forms an important step in the second phase rollout of the MyCiti bus network.
The completed structure will create a valuable link for the bus stations in Khayelitsha, Mitchells Plain, and other underserviced communities in the Cape Metro, creating a raised platform that will ease congestion and allow the MyCiti service to move freely during peak traffic hours.
“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 Cape Town management.
The circle will benefit other road users, too, as the revamped site will feature new robots with improved sequencing for better traffic flow, as well as dedicated walking and cycle lanes.
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