Just what exactly will be the outcome of this year’s Presidential State of the Nation Address on Thursday? That is the question on everybody’s lips as suggestions, recommendations and demands are tweeted to the President. Nobody has a clue what to expect, but you can be sure that somewhere a few feathers will get ruffled.
Here are the road closures for the SONA rehearsal and live event:
Road Closures for rehearsal on Tuesday and Wednesday from 17:00 to 23:59
Adderley St: between Hans Strijdom Ave and Wale St.
Wale St: between Burg and Adderley St’s.
Nelson Mandela Boulevard inbound:Strand St off-ramp.
Spin St: between Corporation and Parliament St’s
Exercise, but no closure (17:45 to 19:00)
Newlands-Rondebosch-Mowbray-Observatory-Salt River-Woodstock-Cape Town.
M3 (Union Ave, Rhodes Dr, de Waal Dr) inbound: Newslands Ave to Jutland Ave. Including pedestrian bridges an on-ramps: UCT and Woolsack Dr Barnham Rd, use Buitekant St(open) or Casual Ave.
Woolsack Dr westbound: Main Rd (M4)-Rhodes Dr (M3); Anzio Rd: Groote Schuur Hospital to de Waal Dr (M3). N2 (Settlers Way, Nelson Mandela Boulevard) inbound: Muizenberg off-ramp (M3) to Table Bay Boulevard.
Newlands (17:45 to 19:00)
Klipper Rd: Main Rd (M4) to Newlands Ave.
Princess Anne Ave: Newlands Ave to Union Ave.
Newlands Ave: Dean St to Princess Anne Ave.
Dean St Westbound: Main Rd to Newlands Ave.
Road closures for Thursday: City and Foreshore (16:00 to 20:00)
Adderley St: between Hans Strijdom Ave and Wale St.
Strand St inbound: from Russel St to Adderley St.
Outbound:from Adderley St to Castle St
Outbound: from Long St into Adderley St(17:45 to 19:00)
Commercial St: between Plein and Niewmeester Ln.
2-way traffic between Niewmeester Ln and Buitekant St (6:00 to 22:00)
Plein St: between Spin and Barrack St’s; between Strand and Spin St’s
And between Barrack and Vrede St’s (9:00 to 21:00).
St John’s Rd: between Roeland and Vrede St’s: Gallery Ln; Government Ave; Bouquet St: (9:00 to 21:00).
Roeland St: between Plen and Buitekant St’s and between Buitenkant St and Ave. (17:45 to 19:00)
Castle St: Strand St to Darling St; except buses and Darling St: Buitekant to Adderley, limited access.
Additional Controlled Roads and Closures:
Security fencing will line the route in the CBD. There will be guarded pedestrian crossing points during peak time on Adderley St (Castle and Shortmarket St’s.), Plein St (Shortmarket, Spin and Barrack St’s.) and Strand St (at the bus terminus). Company Gardens will be closed on Thursday 12 February from 9:00 to 23:59.
Parking Restrictions on Thursday from midnight to 22:00
No parked vehicles will be permitted in Newlands; Princess Anne Ave.
CBD / Foreshore area:
Adderley St: between Strand and Wale St’s.
Darling St:outbound between Plein and Buitenkant St’s, reserved between:
Plein and Parade for taxis from Plein St
Parade and Buitenkant for Parliamentary buses
Strand St: between Adderley and Christiaan Barnard St overpass.
Parliament / Company Gardens area:
Church Square: corner of Spin & Parliament St’s.
Roeland St: between Jutland Ave. & Plein St.
Plein St: between Strand & Roeland St’s.
St. John’s St: between Roeland & Orange St’s
Spin St: between Parliament & Plein St’s.
Parliament St: between Longmarket & Bureau St’s.
Hatfield St: between Roeland & Orange St’s.
St. Mary’s Cathedral Parking Area: between Bouquet & Roeland St’s.
Gallery Lane.
Queen Victoria Ave.
Commercial St: between Buitenkant and Plein St.
Alternative Routes:
Road users are advised to use the following alternative routes to the City Bowl during the event: From the N2 (Settler’s Way): use the N1, Table Bay Blvd via M5 (Black River Parkway), or M7 (Vanguard Dr).
From the M3 (Union Ave):use the M5 (Black River Parkway) and N1 (Table Bay Blvd) or M4 (Main Rd), onto Victoria Rd up to the Good Hope Centre. Thereafter left onto Tennant Rd or right onto Christiaan Barnard Rd to circle the outer CBD.
Outer CBD Circle Road: road users must the following ring route: Christiaan Barnard Rd;Table Bay Blvd; Buitengracht; Buitensingel St; Orange St; Jutland Ave; Upper Roeland St. / Brandweer St and Tennant St.
Click here for a more detailed breakdown.
On the news front, how’s this for a joyride turning sour. A staggeringly drunk 52-year-old on a motorcycle was involved in a high-speed chase with Traffic Services in Bellville recently after being ordered to stop by members of the Ghost Squad who noticed that the motorcycle’s number plate was covered with insulation tape. The 15-minute chase culminated in the man-child colliding into a Traffic Services vehicle, at which point he was found to be twice over the legal blood-alcohol limit. The man, from Bellville, is now facing the following charges:
- Drunk driving
- Reckless and negligent driving
- Defeating the ends of justice
- Failing to stop
- Resisting arrest
- Malicious damage to property
That must have been some wine. Read more here.
