- The City of Cape Town’s Sky Circle project in Lansdowne is halfway completed, bringing the first elevated traffic circle in South Africa closer to reality.
- This project will enhance connectivity for the MyCiTi bus network, linking Khayelitsha and Mitchells Plain.
- Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis calls it a groundbreaking move for public transport and city infrastructure.
The City of Cape Town is making progress with the construction of the free-standing elevated traffic circle, the first of its kind in South Africa, at the intersection of Govan Mbeki Road (M9) and Jan Smuts Drive (M17) in Lansdowne.
Last week, Cape Town Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis and Rob Quintas, the City’s Mayco member for urban mobility, visited the construction site to witness the work done to date.
“The Sky Circle Project is part of the roll-out of the second phase of the MyCiTi bus service, linking Khayelitsha, Mitchells Plain, and various other communities across the metro-south east. Work commenced in July 2022. I’ve been told about 50% of the project is completed. The free-standing elevated circle will be the first in South Africa, demonstrating civil engineering at its best, and we are so proud to see this happening right here, in Cape Town, as part of plans to be an even better future city with a population of well over five million,” says Hill Lewis.
“The metro-south east MyCiTi expansion is the biggest financial investment in public transport by any metro to date. We are working non-stop to improve our public transport service offering to Capetonians. This offering includes the expansion of the MyCiTi service footprint. Public transport should be accessible, convenient, affordable, reliable and safe. We are committed to these goals, as improved mobility means improved productivity, more jobs, economic growth, better lives and futures for all of us.”
In August last year, the City implemented a contra-flow for westbound traffic travelling along Govan Mbeki Road towards Wynberg to allow the contractor to commence with the reconstruction and widening of the westbound carriageway.
“Next, the project team will convert the signalised intersection of Govan Mbeki Road (M9) and Jan Smuts Drive (M17) into a traffic circle. This is planned for early in December, and we will inform the public of the finer details well ahead of time,” says Quintas.
