The City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Urban Mobility, Councillor Rob Quintas, has publically stated plans for South Africa’s first freestanding elevated traffic circle, which will be constructed in Hanover Park. It will be located at the intersection of Govan Mbeki Road (M9) and Jan Smuts Drive (M17).
The project showcases innovative engineering and forms part of the roll-out of the MyCiTi service to the metro-south east. It’s a massive commitment that will take about 44 months to complete, or nearly four years.
Benefits
The benefits of the elevated traffic circle and other upgrades include:
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MyCiTi commuters will get a reliable service that runs on time, according to schedule.
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Travelling times for MyCiTi commuters will be shorter.
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Other road users will benefit from improvements at the intersection below, these will assist with traffic flow, thereby easing congestion.
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Pedestrians and cyclists will have dedicated lanes, separated from the road.
Added to this are opportunities for local jobseekers and subcontractors from the surrounding communities.
About R15 million will be spent on temporary work opportunities for residents who are registered on the local jobseekers database; as well as R15 million for local subcontractors to provide goods and services to the main contractor for this project.
The project will commence on 7 July 2022 (if all goes to plan) but residents will only see major construction activity on site about three months later as it takes time to set up the work area.
The sky circle
The new feature can be described as a hollow circle in the sky, letting in light to the intersection below. The traffic circle will be about 6,2m above the ground and will be for the exclusive use of the MyCiTi buses.
By separating the MyCiTi buses from general traffic, the City will ensure the service operates optimally between Mitchells Plain and Khayelitsha and Wynberg and Claremont without being delayed by the traffic or congestion at the ground level of the intersection. This design will benefit MyCiTi commuters as it will reduce the travelling time to their destinations.
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.
Other road users will also benefit from significant upgrades, such as the commuters who experience congestion during peak hour periods at the intersection at Govan Mbeki Road and Jan Smuts Drive.
Included in this project are interventions to improve traffic flow with:
- The reconfiguration of the intersection;
- dedicated turning lanes;
- improved traffic signals; and
- improved signalisation or sequencing.
Pedestrians and cyclists will benefit from dedicated lanes for walking and cycling along Govan Mbeki Drive and at the intersection, and streetlights will be installed to improve visibility and safety at night.
Existing sewer, water and stormwater infrastructure within the road reserve will be relocated and upgraded, which means improved services to the surrounding communities.
Innovative developments like a sky circle are a step in the right direction for South African engineering. Next, how about those potholes?
Also read:
COCT sets aside R1.4 billion for congestion relief & transport infrastructure
Picture: Supplied
