Fwd: FW: MEDIA RELEASE: City plans extension of Saxdowns Road in Highbury
Highbury Foundation Kuils River
From: Anele Viti <AnelePa...@capetown.gov.za>
Date: Wed, 10 Nov 2021 at 10:59
Subject: FW: MEDIA RELEASE: City plans extension of Saxdowns Road in Highbury
To: Anele Viti <AnelePa...@capetown.gov.za>
Cc: Anele Viti <AnelePa...@capetown.gov.za>
FYI
CITY OF CAPE TOWN
4 NOVEMBER 2021
MEDIA RELEASE
City plans extension of Saxdowns Road in Highbury
The City of Cape Town’s Transport Directorate met with some leadership representatives from the Highbury community in Kuils River yesterday, 3 November 2021 to discuss the proposed Saxdowns Road extension between Langverwacht Road and Belhar Main Road. The City has committed to further engaging with the broader community on this project and will communicate details of this planned engagement once details are confirmed. Read more below:
The City shared the proposed design and phasing of the Saxdowns Road extension and the associated road; pedestrian and cycle lane facilities with these representatives.
An update of the proposed timeline and the process that would need to take place before the project can commence was also shared.
The planned road extensions will consist of two phases:
· Phase 1a will include the Saxdowns Road extension from Langverwacht to Van Riebeeck Road as a single carriageway during 2023-24 at an estimated cost of R79 million.
· Phase 1b will include dualling from Van Riebeeck to Belhar Main Road and is predicted to be implemented by 2032. (subject to future budget availability)
· Phase 2 will eventually see the duelling from Langverwacht to Van Riebeeck Road. The timing of this phase has not been confirmed yet.
After an extensive public participation process in 2018, the Transport Directorate has completed the preliminary design report and is currently proceeding with a single carriageway in the meantime to complete the missing link in Saxdowns Road and to provide decent road access and non-motorised transport infrastructure in support of the new Provincial Jagtershof School and the broader area in general.
The City’s motivation for this project is to incrementally complete the arterial road network within the Kuils River area as part of the City’s congestion alleviation programme and in doing so, to generally reduce delays and to improve access through a more balanced distribution of traffic.
The Saxdowns Road Extension (Phase 1b) provides a new eastern access into the Highbury area and passes between the suburbs on either side, currently enjoying the Emerald Crescent link. During the planning of the Saxdowns Road project it was decided to retain the existing Emerald Crescent link and to provide safe and convenient stairs and universally accessible ramps between Emerald Crescent and Saxdowns Road for residents and their employees to use on their daily commute.
The Arendse Street and Emerald Crescent link was built as a temporary link (in the absence of Belhar Main Road) and currently passes through property still owned by the original developer. With the completion of Belhar Main Road earlier this year, the developer can now either demolish the road and sell the two properties, or the City of Cape Town can purchase the two properties and retain the road link for the current and future benefit of the Highbury Community.
This project will also provide much-needed jobs and skills development to the local community. There is a percentage of the project contract value which will be spent on temporary work opportunities for residents from the area, and on attaining the services of local enterprises. Residents interested in the temporary work opportunities are encouraged to register on the local subcouncil jobseekers database, and local businesses are reminded that they have to tender for sub-contracts once these are advertised.
Further developments and timelines of the project will be communicated as details are confirmed.
End
Issued by: Media Office, City of Cape Town