Cape Town residents and motorists are expected to face ongoing traffic delays and detours for weeks to come as repairs on a collapsed bulk sewer main on Prince George Drive continue.
Ward 72 councillor Kevin Southgate spoke to News24, saying that City of Cape Town contractors are working around the clock to replace pipes that are between 25 and 30 metres long, which may take several weeks to complete.
The collapsed sewer main caused a sinkhole that has had a huge impact on traffic, and the repairs will involve excavating the road surface and removing tar, as well as excavating a large quantity of sand and installing shoring to prevent the excavation site from caving in.
The extent of repairs required on the 990mm-diameter bulk sewer main is still being determined by the Water and Sanitation Directorate.
To mitigate the impact of the repair work on traffic, the City’s traffic service has implemented a trial contraflow, turning the dual southbound carriageway of Prince George Drive into a two-way from 5am to 3pm on a trial basis.
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This has had a positive impact on traffic flow, and if the trial is successful, the contraflow will be implemented on weekdays until the sewer repair work is completed.
However, for the afternoon peak, the southbound lane will revert to a dual carriageway heading towards Muizenberg to accommodate the increase in traffic heading in that direction, and motorists heading northbound will be required to make use of the original diversions via Joe Marks Boulevard.
Meanwhile, a two-way traffic system has been created on the other side of Prince George Drive, diverting motorists through the residential area of Cafda.
This has also helped a petrol station on Prince George Drive that had been losing business because of the traffic diversion.
According to Southgate, the repair work is expected to take up to six weeks, and the contractors are working four metres below ground level to replace the damaged infrastructure.
He added that an entire line or segment is being removed to reduce the risk of further collapse, which may extend the repair time.
While the repair work is disruptive to traffic and residents, it is treated as an emergency, and the City is working to ensure that the repair work is completed as quickly and safely as possible.
In the meantime, motorists and residents are urged to exercise patience and caution and to follow the traffic diversions in place to ensure their safety and the safety of others.
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