Residents have until Friday November 18 to have their say on the proposed changes to the M3 highway.
In an unsigned statement, the City of Cape Town announced that it is proposing several changes to the M3 to alleviate traffic congestion.
“The intention is to alleviate the bottlenecks along the M3 between Upper Hillwood Road and Newlands Avenue,” according to the statement.
The City’s Mayco member for for Urban Mobility, Rob Quintas says thousands of commuters use the M3 every day 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,” he says.
Mr Quintas says commuters familiar with his route have first-hand experience of the congestion during the peak hour periods along the section between Wynberg Hill and Newlands Avenue in particular.
Mr Quintas says the City commissioned an in-depth study of this section of the M3 and according to the traffic assessments the travelling time during the peak hour periods is up to four times longer than during free-flow conditions.
“The study makes recommendations on what changes can be implemented to improve traffic flow, adding that these will have an immediate positive impact for the far majority of people who are travelling along the M3,” he says.
A study finalised last June included:
- An assessment of the traffic safety issues and how the signalised intersections at Fernwood Avenue and Upper Hillwood Road are impeding traffic flow along the M3.
- An assessment of the capacity of the following intersections along the M3: Rhodes Avenue, Fernwood Avenue, Paradise Road, Struben Road, Sidmouth Avenue, Torquay Avenue, and Upper Hillwood Road.
- The impact of the proposed median closures at Fernwood Avenue, Torquay Avenue and Upper Hillwood Road.
- Proposed rerouting options for those who would be impacted by the above median closures, revised intersection layouts, and pedestrian crossings.
- A comparison between head and rear end crashes for the M3 with other major arterials such as Jakes Gerwel Drive, confirmed that the M3 has the highest proportion of head andrear end crashes which is 65% between the intersections with Newlands Avenue and Upper Hillwood Road; and that these types of accidents would be significantly reduced by the proposed removal of the Upper Hillwood Road and Fernwood Road intersections.
- A cost/benefit analysis confirms the benefits in savings like time, fuel, and safety are three times the value of the estimated cost to implement the proposals.
The following proposals are now available for public comment:
- To close the median at the intersection of Fernwood Avenue, and to remove the traffic signal so that traffic can move freely through this section of the M3.
- To allow only a left in to Fernwood Avenue from the M3 for traffic travelling in a northbound direction, meaning traffic can only exit the M3 to Fernwood Avenue, but not enter the M3 from Fernwood Avenue.
- Remove the pedestrian crossing at Fernwood Avenue as pedestrians can cross the M3 at the Paradise Road intersection and at Newlands Avenue.
- To implement a free flow left-turn slip lane at the M3/Rhodes Avenue intersection for traffic travelling eastbound along Rhodes Avenue.
- To signalise the intersection of Rhodes Avenue and Almond Street to safely accommodate traffic that is rerouted from Fernwood Avenue.
- The closure of the median at Upper Torquay Avenue so that traffic travelling in a southbound direction along the M3 can no longer turn right into Upper Torquay. This is to prevent the backing up of traffic along this section caused by right turning vehicles.
- Traffic travelling in a northbound direction will be able to exit the M3 by turning left into Upper Torquay Avenue; similarly, those driving along Upper Torquay Avenue will be able to enter the M3 by turning left to travel northbound towards the city.
- 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.
- 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 pedestrian crossing will be removed as pedestrians can still cross at the overhead bridge at Upper Primrose Road.
Ward 59 councillor, Mikhail Manuel is urging residents to comment in the public participation process. “The impact of these proposed changes is that the travel time during peak hour traffic in the morning and evening will be significantly reduced,” he says.
Chairperson of the Upper Claremont Residents’ and Ratepayers’ Association (UCRRA), Alexis van der Merwe says they received the notice and have started to review the proposals.
“We will be looking to make contact with the local community and encourage all residents and interested and affected parties to make contact with the UCRRA and attend any open days or meetings on this item,” he says.
Residents can submit their comments via email at Transport.News@capetown.gov.za (quote reference: 110222305)
They can also visit www.capetown.gov.za/haveyoursay to comment.
There will also be a public open day on the proposed changes to the M3 Highway at the Alphen Centre in Constantia on Monday November 7, from 3pm until 7pm.
