Salt River bridge reopens - 10 years later
Concrete road barriers on the Vootrekker Road bridge cause traffic congestion.
Image: Supplied
The eastbound lane of the Voortrekker Road bridge, between Salt River and Maitland, will be fully reopened to traffic on April 28, the City announced.
The 100 metre section of the lane, located approximately 150 metres from the Salt River Circle, was originally closed after an extensive fire which caused damage to the structure in December 2015.
Residents and businesses in Salt River slated the safety and traffic congestion issues caused by the concrete bollards and barriers, which caused a traffic headache for over 10 years.
The rehabilitation project was managed by the Passenger Rail Agency of SA (PRASA), with the City of Cape Town providing support, including the provision of safety barriers along the affected section of Voortrekker Road throughout the closure.
"I am very pleased to see this vital section of Voortrekker Road returned to full capacity," said Urban Mobility mayco member, Rob Quintas.
"While the project faced various external delays, including the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic and the complex prioritisation of rail recovery, our focus has remained on the safety of our residents.
"The removal of these barriers marks the end of a long-standing bottleneck for commuters travelling toward Maitland."
The eastbound lane of Voortrekker Road bridge, between Salt River and Maitland, will be fully reopened to traffic.
Image: Supplied
To ensure a smooth transition and minimal disruption to the morning peak, the City drafted the following schedule for Tuesday, April 28:
• 08:30 – 09:00: City’s Roads Infrastructure Management crew and crane truck arrive on-site.
• 09:00 – 12:00: Removal of new jersey barriers, flexible bollards and final inspection.
• 14:00: The lane will officially reopen to all traffic.