A key stretch of Voortrekker Road is set to return to full capacity today, offering long-awaited relief to commuters travelling between Salt River and Maitland, Cape {town} Etc reports.
This comes after the eastbound lane of the Voortrekker Road bridge, previously restricted due to safety concerns, will officially reopen to all vehicular traffic by mid-afternoon following the completion of structural rehabilitation work.
The development, outlined by the City of Cape Town, comes after extensive repairs were undertaken to restore the integrity of the over-rail bridge, which had been partially closed following fire-related damage.
City teams have mapped out a structured reopening process to ensure minimal disruption during the morning peak.
Crews began arriving on-site from 8:30am, with work continuing through the late morning as barriers and temporary infrastructure were dismantled.
By 2pm, the lane is expected to be fully accessible to motorists, effectively restoring the road to its original capacity and easing pressure on surrounding routes that had absorbed diverted traffic.
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The affected section, a 100-metre stretch located near Salt River Circle, was initially closed as a precaution after a structural assessment identified damage caused by an earlier fire incident.
Mayoral Committee Member for Urban Mobility, Councillor Rob Quintas, acknowledged the delays that impacted the project timeline, noting that external factors, including the Covid-19 pandemic and competing infrastructure priorities, had extended the process.
‘I am very pleased to see this vital section of Voortrekker Road returned to full capacity. While the project faced various external delays, including the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic and the complex prioritisation of rail recovery, our focus has remained on the safety of our residents,’ Quintas stated.
For daily commuters, the reopening signals the removal of a persistent traffic constraint that had affected travel times along the corridor.
‘The removal of these barriers marks the end of a long-standing bottleneck for commuters travelling toward Maitland,’ Quintas added.
The City also extended appreciation to residents and local businesses who navigated the disruption over an extended period, as construction teams worked to stabilise and restore the structure.
The rehabilitation work was led by the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA), with the City providing support, including the installation and maintenance of safety barriers along the affected section.
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Picture: City of Cape Town
