Kommetjie Main Road Ou Kaapse Weg Project

Completion of Far South Congestion Relief Road Project

Over the past three and a half years, the City of Cape Town has invested approximately R256 million in the Kommetjie/Ou Kaapse Weg road project, which will assist with traffic congestion relief for vehicular road users and pedestrians. 

From new water reticulation chambers and retention ponds, to upgraded intersections and new non-motorised transport facilities, the road upgrades and improvements are eye-catching. We, at HHO Consulting Engineers, are thrilled with the outcome and it has been well worth the time it has taken to complete. The overall project design and outcome has included: 

• Dualling carriageways, in both directions, over the main contract construction area of Ou Kaapse Weg and Kommetjie Road.
• Widening of Noordhoek Road to increase lane widths and provide surfaced shoulders with kerbs for the full length on the southern side.
• Widening of the Ou Kaapse Weg/Silvermine Road intersection.
• Additional lanes at major intersections on the abovementioned roads, to increase intersection capacity. 
• New non-motorised transport facilities (pedestrian and cycle lanes).

Utilising local labour and developing basic skills, form an essential role in uplifting the local communities. Approximately R11 million was spent on local labour and approximately R5.3 million was spent on local subcontractors, from a nearby, disadvantaged community, namely Masiphumelele.  

There is a high demand for non-motorized transport facilities, or NMT’s, within the project design area, and, as a result, a total of approximately 15 000m2 of NMT paved area has been constructed. A combination of sidewalks and cycle lanes provide safe and considerate access to those commuting along Kommetjie Road to the nearby malls and industrial shopping facilities.  

Amongst the new NMT facilities and the vehicular road user lanes, lie newly planted trees and shrubs, which form a part of the indigenous landscaping contract. Red flowering gum trees, or Corymbia (Eucalyptus) ficifolia, were planted to replace the gum trees that were originally removed for road widening, and will serve as a bee foraging resource for the local beekeepers. Other landscaping includes the planting of indigenous and ‘shrubby’ trees, indigenous shrubs, indigenous groundcover plants, mixed grass and fynbos seed and sour fig cuttings.