Upgrade raises ire of Camps Bay residents

THE CAMPS Bay Ratepayers’ and Residents’ Association says while it welcomes the R20 million upgrade of Camps Bay Drive, it is concerned that residents were not consulted about potential problems in the area before the project was finalised.

And, in what could add to the nightmare of entering and exiting the city, the R24m rehabilitation of the key Strand and Adderley streets intersection will start today.

Camps Bay resident and member of the association’s executive committee, Chris Willemse, said local knowledge could have “first-guessed potential problems” that might have been avoided.

“It is also extremely concerning that this massive project does not include any road geometry work to the dangerous bend between Rontree Avenue and Rottingdean Road.

“School children cross this bend in the road from the adjacent sportsfield and have to contend with speeding traffic with almost zero sight distance.”

Camps Bay Drive is to be closed for five months while the city upgrades the road surface and widens sections of the road. There has been no upgrade on this stretch for 30 years.

Brett Herron, the mayco member for Transport for Cape Town, said the work would also slacken some of the sharp corners to make the passage of buses in either direction easier.

But Willemse said there was no mention of traffic calming measures that would offset increased speeds on the upgraded road that would “in all likelihood, become a race track for certain idiots”.

Of the five months of anticipated dis- ruptions, Willemse said the chaos would have to be endured.

“The association trusts that the city’s traffic department will embrace positive suggestions from the community as this scenario unfolds.”

Regarding the Strand Street upgrade, Herron warned users to expect traffic delays to and from the CBD.

“The road surface and base above the Strand and Adderley Street concourse is at least 30 years old and has to be rehabilitated. The existing asphalt surfacing at this intersection is cracked, old and brittle. Due to the cracked road surface, water is leaking through the road onto the concourse deck (which has no waterproofing) and into the pedestrian and retail space below.

“We are spending about R24m to remove the existing asphalt in the intersection above the concourse, to apply waterproofing and to replace the road surface with a new layer of asphalt.

“Once completed, the quality of the road surface will be significantly improved and the owners from the shops below will not need to be concerned about further leakages. In addition, future maintenance will be delayed for at least another 12 years.”

Work would be done in phases and one or two lanes would be closed at a time in the sections under construction.

“We will try everything possible to limit the inconvenience to road users, but commuters must please try to avoid this area and find alternative routes into and from the CBD. Those road users who cannot avoid this intersection must expect significant traffic congestion and delays.”

Parking and entrance to parking garages would not be affected by the construction.