Today, Cape Town Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis joined teams to break ground on the construction starting along Imam Haron Road and Stanhope Bridge on the major MyCiTi route expansion from Khayelitsha and Mitchells Plain. This is the penultimate leg of South Africa’s biggest public transport project. Travelling via MyCiTi bus, the Mayor, together with Councillor Rob Quintas, Mayoral Committee Member for Urban Mobility, inspected several infrastructure projects along the new route linking communities across the metro’s south-east. Progress was observed at the bridge-building across Duynefontein and Govan Mbeki roads, and South Africa’s first ‘Sky Circle’ in Hanover Park.

‘It’s exciting to see the major progress all along the new MyCiTi route linking Khayelitsha, Mitchells Plain, and various other communities across our city’s south-east. The enabling infrastructure is noticeably rising before our eyes on this major expansion of public transport that is affordable, safe and reliable for Capetonians. It was a wonderful feeling to break ground in Claremont today, which together with Wynberg, are the two end points of this expansion of the MyCiTi footprint. The existing MyCiTi N2 Express service from Mitchells Plain and Khayelitsha to the CBD is already among the busiest routes in the city, and we can’t wait for the transformative impact of the new south-east route, which is South Africa’s biggest multi-billion rand, multi-year public transport project,’ said Mayor Hill-Lewis.

The MyCiTi south-east expansion is the biggest financial investment in public transport by any metro to date, with over R6bn allocated in the current three-year budget cycle.

Multiple infrastructure projects are in full swing across the metro’s south-east to provide a direct route to Wynberg and Claremont, including:

• Road widening, signalling, and new walkway construction in Claremont
• Major upgrades to enable bus lane construction along Turfhall Road and AZ Berman
• Sky Circle construction – a South African first – at Govan Mbeki Road (M9) and Jan Smuts Drive (M17)
• Bridge construction over Duynefontein and Govan Mbeki Roads
• Traffic lanes, bus stops, signalling and cycling lanes along Govan Mbeki Road
• Spine Road depot construction

‘We are working non-stop to improve our public transport service offering to Capetonians, as improved mobility means more jobs, economic growth, and better futures for all of us. Our project teams are also trying their best to limit the impact on road users. I encourage residents to anticipate delays as roadworks continue along the new MyCiti bus route development. Best is to plan ahead and to consider alternative routes to destinations as far as possible,’ said Councillor Rob Quintas, the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Urban Mobility.

MyCiTi expansion projects update - Claremont road widening, signalling, and walkway construction.

What to expect from 14 May 2025 for approximately six months:

• A full road closure on Imam Haron Road in both directions between Cook Road and Markham Road, the detour is via Markham Road
• One lane closure on Imam Haron Road from Markham Road to Selous Road towards Kenilworth, the detour is via Markham Road. Full road closures at the intersections of Imam Haron Road and Columbus, Markham and Franklin Roads

Mitigation measures:

• Disruptive work is restricted to between 09:00 and 15:00 on weekdays
• If needed, work will take place after hours, from 19:00 on Friday to 06:00 on Monday, and residents will be notified in advance
• Pedestrians will be accommodated with safe passage, including temporary crossings
• One lane in each direction will be open to traffic at all times
• Temporary signage and flag personnel will be deployed to help keep traffic flowing and ensure the safety of all road users

Sky Circle

The construction of the freestanding elevated traffic circle, the first of its kind in South Africa, at the intersection of Govan Mbeki Road (M9) and Jan Smuts Drive (M17) in Lansdowne commenced in July 2022.

Work is beyond the halfway mark with the relocation of underground services and the construction of the eastern and western ramps for the Sky Circle.

Construction of the overhead structure is progressing well. The temporary traffic circle will be in place for another 15 months or so as it serves as an island for the crane that is being used to build the overhead structure.

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.

AZ Berman Drive Bus Lanes

• The project along AZ Berman Drive is around 30% complete with the provisional finish date being January 2027.
• Lane closures, traffic switches, and detours are implemented in phases to accommodate the construction, and will continue into the foreseeable future.
• Some lane switches will be effective later this month and from mid-May onwards, this will be communicated to the public however the City asks that road users please look out for the signage.
• Highlands Drive Lanes will be closed to traffic between AZ Berman Drive and the intersection of Johannes Meintjies Road/Merrydale Avenue until 26 May 2025 with the detour via Morgenster Road.
• Additional Traffic Services officials will be deployed during this period on AZ Berman. This will greatly assist to address the safety and security concerns, together with the appointed contractor's own private security to be deployed at strategic points.

Bridging Duynefontein Road

The relocation of underground services and telecommunications and electrical cables on Govan Mbeki Road, between Heinz Road and NY72 is progressing well.

This involves relocating four kilometres of the bulk water main that connects the Steenbras Dam to the Newlands Reservoir. It currently runs beneath the planned bus lanes and is being moved to the side of the road to accommodate the MyCiTi service.

The construction of a bridge over the intersection of Duynefontein Road and Govan Mbeki Road will give MyCiTi buses priority over other traffic at the intersection, ensuring a quicker journey time than with a private car.

The bridge piers are complete on the east side and the precast beams were recently moved and place at the site.

This project is planned to be complete by the end of 2026.

Turfhall Road

In May last year, the City commenced with major construction work along a 1,7km stretch of Turfhall Road (M24) from the M5 intersection in the west to the intersection with Castor and Benona Roads in the east.

Two traffic lanes are maintained in each direction to limit the impact on motorists. The westbound carriageway from Benona/Castor Roads to the M5 has been excavated to make way for new layer works that will increase the capacity and lifespan of the road.

Work will then move to the eastbound carriageway before new bus lanes are built in the road median.

The project is scheduled for completion by June 2027.

Govan Mbeki Road, from east of Klipfontein Road to the R300 bridge

This work involves the reconstruction of the general traffic lanes, the construction of bus stops, new traffic signals and cycling and walking lanes along the section of Govan Mbeki Road east of Klipfontein Road.

The first job at hand is the relocation of the existing underground services before the construction work can commence. The provisional project completion date is January 2027.

Spine Road bus depots

The construction of two bus depots at the intersection of Spine Road and Mew Way is nearly 80% complete, and will be done by October 2025 if all goes to plan.