Atlantis, Blaauwberg boast new sidewalks ahead of time

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The City of Cape Town’s Transport Directorate has completed the construction and rehabilitation of non-motorised transport (NMT) facilities in Atlantis and the Blaauwberg North area six months ahead of time. The project commenced in May 2019 and was scheduled to be completed in July 2021.

The project boasts new sidewalks along the following roads in the Blaauwberg North area:

  • Dorchester Road
  • Gie Road
  • Humewood Drive
  • Otto du Plessis Drive
  • Ringwood Drive
  • Wood Drive

Public open spaces include:

  • Humewood Park
  • Marlborough Park
  • Torquay Park
  • Velderama Park
  • Hampstead Park
  • Sandown-humewood Park

Work implemented in Atlantis included the construction of sidewalks along:

  • Tsitsikama Road
  • Montreal Drive
  • Waltham Road
  • Wakefield Road
  • Brendton Road
  • Windsor Road
  • Witfontein Road
  • Wittenbos Road
  • Starling Road
  • Castlehill Close
  • Aventine Lane
  • Addison Street
  • Alberto Road
  • Athens Avenue
  • Atrim Road
  • Westfleur Circle
  • Antelope Street
  • Mark Street

Non-motorised transport facilities were also constructed along Birkenhead Drive from the R27 towards Melkbosstrand.

The informal trading area at the local public transport interchange in Atlantis was also upgraded.

‘This project is the true epitome of excellence in service delivery. It speaks to some of our key objectives that we constantly strive to live up to, namely to improve access and safety, and working with communities to improve the areas where they live and work. With the new sidewalks, the overall safety of pedestrians has been improved significantly and they will have easy access to certain areas.

‘Another huge benefit stemming from this project is the temporary employment opportunities offered to 29 local residents and the contracting of local sub-contractors. Apart from a much needed income, these workers also benefitted from learning new skills, and being involved with a project that is of great value to their community,’ said the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Transport, Alderman Felicity Purchase.

The project was completed way before the scheduled time despite experiencing challenges, key among which the lockdown restrictions that were implemented due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the first quarter of last year when construction work was not considered as an essential service.

‘However, once this period passed the project gained great momentum. The project management team communicated well throughout, managed the risks and adopted a preventative managing strategy. Some of the key contributions to success was a contractor that was quality-driven and an employer that created an environment for success,’ said Alderman Purchase.