Cape Town expected to experience nightmarish traffic this weekend

Most South African cities can handle traffic and road closures when one major sporting event comes to town. However, Cape Town has its work cut out for it this weekend (13-14 April 2024) as it hosts the Two Oceans full and half marathons. But that’s only half of it …

Because, in a rather cruel twist of timing, two massive cruise ships are set to dock in Cape Town harbour this weekend, causing untold traffic chaos in the Waterfront/CBD. As reported by The South African, the arrival of the Queen Mary 2 and Queen Victoria this weekend coincides with the Two Oceans marathons, ensuring tremendous traffic complication in and around Cape Town.

CAPE TOWN TRAFFIC THIS WEEKEND

It promises to be so bad that city officials put out a statement warning Capetonians to stay off the roads and leave plenty of time for travel. Cape Town Mayoral Committee Member for Urban Mobility Rob Quintas says, “Our Traffic Signal Operators will monitor conditions closely … and activate appropriate signal timing plans to best manage queues.”

Moreover, JP Smith, the Cape Town Mayoral Committee for Safety and Security, highlighted that Traffic Services will work closely with port officials in an attempt to implement measures to reduce congestion as passengers are collected and/or dropped off at the CBD/Waterfront for their cruises.

TWO OCEANS MARATHONS

Throw into the traffic mix widespread road closures for this weekend’s Two Oceans full and half marathons, and you have a perfect storm of traffic misery. The full marathon takes place on Saturday 13 April. And the half on Sunday 14 April.

The former is longer and takes in the entire peninsula, while the half has more runners competing. There’s also the unique challenge of tens of thousands of runners having to find parking in and around the start line in Newlands. Take note of road closures and times that follow the marathon routes below …

SATURDAY 13 APRIL ROAD CLOSURES

• Main Road: Newlands. Between Klipper Road and Letterstedt Road 03h30 – 06h00
• Main Road: Newlands to Claremont. Between Letterstedt Road and Protea Road. 03h30 – 06h00
• Main Road: Claremont to Wynberg. From Protea Road to Piers Road. 04h45 −06h15
• Main Road: Wynberg to Diep River. From Piers Road to De Waal Road / Kendal Road. 05h00 – 06h45
• Main Road: Diep River to Retreat. From De Waal Road / Kendal Road to Tokai Road. 05h15 – 07h15
• Main Road: Retreat to Steenberg. Tokai Road to Steenberg Road. 05h30 – 07h15
• Main Road: Steenberg to Muizenberg. Steenberg Road to Atlantic Road – Southbound lane use Westlake Avenue and Boyes Drive. 05h30 – 07h45
• Main Road: Muizenberg to Fish Hoek. Local access only between Muizenberg (Atlantic Road) and Kalk Bay (Clairvaux Road). 05h45 – 08h30
• Kommetjie Road: Fish Hoek. From Main Road to Corsair Way, Sun Valley. 06h00 – 08h45
• Corsair Way: Sun Valley. Kommetjie Road to Frigate Crescent. Both lanes closed. 06h15 – 08h45
• Frigate Crescent: Sun Valley. Corsair Way to Dory Walk. 06h15 – 09h00
• Dory Walk: Sun Valley. Frigate Crescent to Chebec Crescent. 06h15 – 09h00
• Chebec Crescent: Sun Valley. Dory Walk to Dhow Street. 06h15 – 09h00

FULL MARATHON CLOSURES CONTINUED …

• Ou Kaapse Weg. Both Directions: Expect Delays – Stop / Go control at Noordhoek Main Road. 06h15 – 09h00
• Noordhoek Main Road. Local access only. Northbound lane closed. Traffic to share southbound lane. 06h15 – 09h30
• Silvermine Road. From Village Lane to Noordhoek Main Road. 06h30 – 09h30
• Chapman’s Peak Drive. Chapman’s Peak Drive will be closed to traffic from 03h30.
• Hout Bay Main Road. From Chapman’s Peak to Victoria Road Circle. 07h00 – 10h45
• Hout Bay Road. From Victoria Road Circle to Disa River Road. Totally closed to traffic. 07h00 – 11h15
• Hout Bay Road. From Disa River Road to Constantia Nek. A convoy system for motorists will operate under the direction of the traffic department. 07h15 – 11h30
• Rhodes Drive. Constantia Nek to Canterbury Road Circle. Both directions closed to traffic. 07h30 – 12h15
• Rhodes Drive. Canterbury Road Circle to Union Avenue. Traffic may only travel south. 07h45 – 12h30
• M3 – Union Avenue. Rhodes Drive/Newlands Avenue to UCT. Left lane will be coned off for athletes, right lane will remain open at all times for motorists travelling towards Cape Town. 07h00 – 13h00.
• Princess Anne Avenue. Accesses to and from M3 Northbound closed.

SUNDAY 14 APRIL ROAD CLOSURES (HALF MARATHON)

• Main Road: Newlands. Between Klipper Road and Letterstedt Road. 03h30 – 07h30
• Main Road: Newlands to Claremont. Between Letterstedt Road and Protea Road. 03h30 – 07h30
• Protea Road. Between Main Road and the M3. NB: There will be no access to the M3 via Protea Road and Newlands Road. 06h00 – 07h30
• Paradise Road. Protea Road to Edinburgh Drive. 06h00 – 07h30
• M3 Southbound. From Princess Anne Avenue to Kendal Road. 06h00 – 08h15
• Kendal Road. Between Spaanschemat River Road and Edison Road. 06h30 – 08h15
• Spaanschemat River Road. From Doorddrift Road to Ladies Mile Extension. 06h00 – 08h15
• Ladies Mile Extension. Between Spaanschemat River Road and Constantia Main Road. 06h30 – 08h30
• Parish Road. From Constantia Main Road to Southern Cross Drive. 06h45 – 08h45
• Contstantia Main Road. Between Pagasvlei Road and Constantia Village Shopping Centre Entrance. 06h45 – 08h30
• Southern Cross Drive. From Brommersvlei Road to Rhodes Drive. 06h45 – 09h00
• Rhodes Drive. Southern Cross Drive to Canterbury Road Circle. 06h45 – 09h30
• Rhodes Drive. Canterbury Road Circle to Union Avenue. 07h00 – 10h00
• M3 – Union Avenue. Rhodes Drive/Newlands Ave to UCT. Left lane will be coned off for athletes, right lane will remain open at all times for motorists travelling towards Cape Town. 06h30 – 10h30
• Princess Anne Avenue. Accesses to and from M3 Northbound closed.

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