- Kloof Road repairs in Clifton have faced significant delays with no set completion date due to environmental and logistical challenges.
- Frustrated residents report extended travel times and worsening traffic congestion.
- The City has prioritized the project but warns that necessary permits and environmental approvals will delay progress further.
The city says it cannot provide a time frame on when repairs on Kloof Road will be completed.
The road requires major repair work following a slope failure that occurred during the Cape storm in September last year.
But some residents have voiced their frustration saying they fail to understand why “nothing has been done” more than a year later.
Resident Alan Levin explains that the time it takes him to commute into town has doubled.
“This is a most critical feeder road to Clifton and it doubles the time for anyone living in Clifton or Fresnaye to get to town.
“The City has this densification policy on the Atlantic Seaboard. They want to densify but they don’t want to fix the road that broke more than a year ago.”
According to Levin, repairs should not take more than a year.
“The storm also destroyed a massive bridge on the N2 near Bot River. They had to rebuild the bridge which cost millions, and they got it done in less than a month, what our City can’t do in years.
“It takes me double the time when there’s traffic and it takes me triple the time to get into town.”
Congestion
Levin says traffic congestion also increased.
“The City could’ve made traffic flow smoother. There is a stop sign at the bottom of the alternate road to get to Victoria Road.
“That stop street backs up to more than 30 minutes during peak traffic. It’s so dangerous as well because you can’t see.
“The City doesn’t help to alleviate the traffic that they have caused by not dealing with the road.”
Nicola Jowell, Ward 54 councillor, says this remains a “priority project”.
“The appointed geotechnical consultants have finished their investigations, drilling and assessments. They have completed the design work with options provided on the design of the repairs and mountainside stabilisation.”
She said the work involved is going to require a number of permits and permissions.
“An environmental specialist was appointed for an environmental impact assessment (EIA). As part of this EIA, they have had to contract a botanist, flora & fauna specialist, wetland specialist and also a water specialist. This shows the sensitivity of the site as the work will extend down into the designated water course, and there are rare fauna & flora considerations.”
In April this year, Rob Quintas Mayco member for urban mobility, said a press statement that the road may be closed for the next 20 months, given the scale and complexities of the project.
“This section of Kloof Road is unfortunately deemed unsafe for use and requires major repairs. Residents and visitors are advised to stay clear of this portion of the road.”
Responding to People’s Post’s enquiries Quintas said during this year’s winter, an additional slip failure occurred along Kloof Road making the road unsafe for public use. He explains that some of the challenges that add to the delays in repairs include:
- Some other trees that are currently in the work area will have to be removed
- There is no access road to the bottom of the slip where the work needs to start.
- Given the environmental sensitivity of the area, access built with heavy machinery, and getting the required machinery and materials to the bottom will pose many logistical challenges
- This road section is located within South African National Parks land, and therefore Environmental approval and permits are required.
According to Quintas, in November last year the City appointed a geotechnical specialist engineer to assess the situation, including the stability of the slopes above the road. This included soil testing and drilling.
“The results of the soil samples informed the concept design of the solution to stabilise the ‘toe’ of the collapsed slope and rebuild the slope up to the road reserve. The concept design of the preferred solution was completed in August 2024.”
He says since then an environmental consultant has been appointed to advise on the processes/assessments needed to comply with the National Environmental Management Act (NEMA).
“The environmental impact assessment is based on the concept design that was completed in August 2024, as such, the two processes could not run in parallel.”
He explains that it could take up to a year to obtain the necessary approvals in terms of the Water Act and National Environmental Management Act.
“This is if there are no delays or appeals. The City will keep the public informed.”
