Cape Town unfinished highways have been part of the city’s skyline for more than 50 years. Now, the long-abandoned Foreshore structures could finally make way for a new chapter.
The uncompleted Foreshore Freeway Bridge in Cape Town circa 2007 / Flickr user Paul Mannix / Wikimedia Commons
The City of Cape Town has unveiled plans to transform the Foreshore freeways, including a new bridge, an underground tunnel and a new mixed-use neighbourhood. The project aims to improve traffic flow while unlocking about 15 hectares of land that has remained largely undeveloped for decades.
A new route through the city
The first phase includes a new bridge over Buitengracht Street, connecting the inbound freeway with Helen Suzman Boulevard. The link would allow traffic heading towards Green Point and Sea Point to bypass the CBD, while additional freeway lanes and bus-priority lanes are also planned.
A park and public spaces would sit beneath the proposed bridge, with a canal linking Buitengracht Park to the V&A canal. The second phase would introduce a new outbound bridge and underground tunnel connecting the Foreshore with the N1 and N2. If completed, the existing elevated outbound freeway could eventually be demolished.
Reconnecting the Foreshore
The plans are about more than traffic. Removing the elevated freeway would create space for homes, businesses, restaurants, parks and public areas. The longer-term vision includes affordable housing, a tree-lined harbour promenade and improved routes for pedestrians and cyclists. It would also open up a part of the city that has long been defined by concrete, highways and vacant land.
Still years away
The project remains in the planning stage, with public participation, detailed designs, funding and statutory approvals still required. The City is targeting construction of the first phase during the next term of Council, while the larger second phase could continue towards 2040.
For now, Cape Town’s famous unfinished highways remain a striking reminder of a project that never quite reached the finish line. But after decades of uncertainty, the city now has a plan for what could come next.
Source (SA People News)
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