The City of Cape Town’s Urban Mobility Directorate has announced that Kloof Road will be closed for 24 months for repairs, subject to change depending on multiple factors.
The road was expected to be fully reopened in 12 to 18 months; however, extreme storm damage has rendered the road section between Kloof Nek Road and Round House Road unsafe for public use until extensive repairs have been completed.
Also read: Kloof Road is to be closed for at least 12 months to repair storm damage
The closure follows a level nine storm over the weekend of 24 September 2023, which caused landslides and infrastructure damage across Cape Town.
The severity of the rainfall, combined with an already saturated environment, led to substantial surface water runoff, causing instability in the embankment along Kloof Road. This instability resulted in a significant slip failure, compromising the road’s integrity and safety.
Councillor Rob Quintas, the City’s mayoral committee member for urban mobility, along with local Ward Councillor Nicola Jowell, inspected the site earlier this week with engineering teams. They observed that approximately one-third of the lane towards Camps Bay was undermined by the slip, making it unstable and unsafe for traffic.
A geotechnical engineer has been appointed to assess the situation, including the stability of the slopes above the road, which also show potential signs of instability.
The City faces the complex task of repairing the road and ensuring the stability of the surrounding area. The process involves detailed soil testing, drilling and designing a reconstruction plan.
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Following these investigations, a procurement process for the construction work will commence. The project might also require environmental authorisations, further extending the timeline.
The City’s Transport Planning and Network Management branch is working on a traffic management plan to ease congestion, especially with the upcoming holiday season.
The closure of Kloof Road is expected to affect traffic flow, particularly in areas like Clifton, Camps Bay and other areas along the Atlantic Seaboard.
The City urged residents and visitors to use alternative routes and avoid the affected area for safety reasons.
In repairing the massive slip, the City’s Urban Mobility Directorate plans to stabilise the collapsed slope’s ‘toe,’ allowing for the importation of new material to fill the gap. It will collaborate with SANParks, the landowner below the slip, on various aspects of the project.
The City thanked the community for their understanding and support during this extensive repair project.
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Picture: City of Cape Town