Africa-Press – South-Africa. Although still some time off, relief may be in sight for motorists stuck in bumper-to-bumper traffic along the M3 during peak-hour traffic.
Last week, the City of Cape Town proposed several changes to existing intersections along the M3 with the intention to alleviate the bottlenecks along the expressway between Upper Hillwood Road and Newlands Avenue.
Rob Quintas, the City’s Mayco member for urban mobility, says thousands of commuters use the M3 daily to travel between the southern suburbs and the city.
“The M3 is a strategic north-south freeway and must facilitate mobility and access to and from the city. Those familiar with this route have first-hand experience of the congestion during the peak hour periods along the section between Wynberg Hill and Newlands Avenue, in particular,” says Quintas.
The City commissioned a transport assessment study of this section to help determine infrastructure improvements to assist with traffic flow. The study was finalised in June last year.
Quintas says, according to the study’s findings, the travelling time during the peak hour periods is up to four times longer than during free-flow conditions.
“In fact, the M3 is so busy lately that traffic is seldom free flowing between 06:00 in the morning and 19:00 in the evening, regardless of the day of the week.
Proposals on the table include closing the median at the intersection of Fernwood Avenue and removing the traffic signal there, allowing only a left into Fernwood Avenue from the M3 for traffic travelling in a northbound direction, and removing the pedestrian crossing at Fernwood Avenue.
The City is also proposing to implement a free flow left-turn slip lane at the M3/Rhodes Avenue intersection for traffic travelling eastbound along Rhodes Avenue, and to signalise the intersection of Rhodes Avenue and Almond Street to accommodate traffic that is re-routed from Fernwood Avenue. Another suggested median closure is that of the one at Upper Torquay Avenue.
In addition, it has been put forward to close Upper Hillwood Road at the top of Wynberg Hill, implement a median closure, and remove the traffic signal at this intersection so that traffic can move freely along this section and over the hill. If this goes ahead, Upper Hillwood Road will become a cul-de-sac that does not intersect with the M3, while retaining existing access to and from the corner property.
“The analysis confirmed the M3 operates very poorly along this section because the traffic signal activates regularly during the critical weekday peak hour periods to serve a few vehicles along Upper Hillwood Road while delaying thousands of vehicles on the M3,” says Quintas.
Mikhail Manuel, councillor for Ward 59, posted a video on Facebook last week, encouraging residents to participate and give input into the proposed plans.
“There are two things, since the beginning of this year, that residents have raised with me. One is the significant waiting time to enter or exit the M3, particularly at Newlands Avenue and at Paradise Road. I reported back that in the second half of this year and the first bit of next year, the signals between Newlands Avenue and Strubens Road will be upgraded so that they are a bit more synchronised. That project is still going ahead and is separate to the public participation process that is out right now.”
He said the other request that also came through was about the pedestrian crossing which connects Paradise Park and the Upper Liesbeek River Park.
“This pedestrian crossing is used by many runners and cyclists and nannies with prams, it is really a very popular root and the best time to give inputs and requests for the crossing time to actually be increased is now.”
A public information day will be held on Monday 7 November from 15:00 to 19:00 at the Alphen Centre in Constantia.
All concerned and interested parties have until Friday 18 November to submit their views.
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