The R487m Department of Transport and Public Works project to upgrade 9 km of the N1 between Plattekloof Road and Old Oak Interchange is 50% complete.
According to department spokesperson Byron la Hoe, approximately 120 000 vehicles travel along this stretch of road during the morning inbound and afternoon outbound peak periods.
“The addition of a third lane in both directions will significantly reduce traffic congestion on one of Cape Town’s busiest roads. The project is expected to be completed in April 2019.”
La Hoe says work on installing the Freeway Management System, fibre optic bank, and Wemmershoek pipeline is complete, as is the Old Oak Interchange temporary bypass.
“Current work in progress includes the construction of inbound lane-widening earthworks from Durban Road to Jip De Jager, and the widening of Jip De Jager Interchange and its ramps.
“The construction at the Old Oak Intersection will be causing some inconvenience to motorists until October this year. The old northern Old Oak Bridge had to be demolished and rebuilt to make space for the additional lane.”
He adds that traffic will continue to be diverted onto the southern Old Oak Bridge until the northern bridge is complete. The temporary N1 inbound on-ramp bypass will remain in place until a retaining wall on this on-ramp is complete.
“This project is creating a number of short-term job and skills development opportunities. To date, R14m has been spent on targeted labour while 17 434 person-days of work have been created for people from the City of Cape Town municipal area.”
