First look: Cape Town’s plan to turn unfinished highways into new neighbourhood

Speaking at the unfinished bridges themselves on Friday, Cape Town Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis revealed the Foreshore Precinct Project.

The project’s vision is to transform the Foreshore’s unfinished highways into an iconic new link bridge, promenade, and vibrant new neighbourhood.

It would put 15 hectares of land to use that has sat undeveloped for over five decades. The City notes it is among the last vacant CBD land available.

Hill-Lewis declared that the City is “getting the ball rolling on some 50-year-old unfinished business!”

What happens to the unfinished highways?

In July, Hill-Lewis announced that the City was preparing to release its first proposed designs for public comment.

“Today is the beginning of that public facing phase,” Hill-Lewis said on Friday. “We are releasing drawings to begin a process of public consultation.”

“Then the final designs will be turned into detailed engineering designs, before procurement can begin and eventually, construction.”

The City plans to build in two halves. Existing freeways will keep running throughout the project, to avoid crippling traffic.

PHASE ONE centres on a new bridge over Buitengracht street. It will link the unfinished highway (inbound) directly to Helen Suzman Boulevard, with two extra inbound lanes added.

Drivers heading from the Foreshore towards Green Point and Sea Point will effectively bypass the CBD. A large new park will open beneath the bridge.

Other changes include bus lanes across Buitengracht and a pedestrian-oriented FW de Klerk Boulevard. A new canal will link Buitengracht Park to the V&A Canal, and three land parcels will open up for housing.

Construction is set to begin during the next term of office of Council.

PHASE TWO brings an outbound tunnel, built on vacant land between the Port and Customs House. It will run beside Duncan Road to connect with the N1 and N2.

Once it is complete, the outbound elevated viaduct will be demolished. That clears the way for a harbour-edge promenade, parks and public spaces. This larger phase is due to run until 2040.

A new neighbourhood beside the sea

The bigger prize, according to the Mayor, comes after the concrete is poured. Over the decades ahead, the plan promises affordable housing, walkable streets and a tree-lined promenade stretching to Sea Point.

The bridges and tunnel will take the best part of a decade to build. The new neighbourhoods will keep unfolding beyond that, driving growth for two to three decades.

Hill-Lewis framed the project as a statement of ambition, while also addressing some of Cape Town’s biggest congestion headaches.

“Cape Town is one of the world’s great port cities, and everything about our identity is shaped by the sea,” the Mayor said.

“By removing the physical barriers between city and sea, we will reconnect with our maritime identity and heritage.”

He also pointed to the MyCiTi expansion to Khayelitsha and Mitchells Plain, now under construction, as the city’s other major upgrade.

Public participation

Residents can register for updates here. Further consultation will cover road scheme amendments and heritage impact assessments.

City Manager Lungelo Mbandazayo also urged the public to participate.

“The most important phase is now: where we are presenting our proposals to Capetonians,” Mbandazayo added. “This is your city, and we want you to be involved.”