New bridge, tunnel and neighbourhood proposed for Cape Town Foreshore - IOL

A projection of what the Foreshore bridge will look like after construction.

Cape Town’s infamous unfinished highway is set to be completed, as Cape Town Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis revealed the new vision for the project. 

The new project will also unlock a new neighbourhood, about five decades after the construction of the project halted mid-air. 

According to Hill-Lewis, the City’s vision is to transform the Foreshore’s unfinished highways into an iconic new link bridge, promenade, and vibrant new neighbourhood. 

The proposal will see Cape Town’s legendary unfinished bridges finally being completed, relieving congestion in the CBD for decades to come, and unlocking economic opportunity for a growing Cape Town. 

A new bridge will directly link the inbound freeway to Helen Suzman Boulevard, bypassing Buitengracht below. The outbound freeway will be replaced by a tunnel underground running next to Duncan Road.

“I am excited to unveil this vision for a new Foreshore precinct that will see these legendary bridges being finished at last. We’ve been working on this project for the last few years in detail, but in truth, we’re getting the ball rolling on finishing some 50-year-old unfinished business! And these are not just bridges. They will help address some of Cape Town’s biggest congestion headaches, while unlocking huge investment, job creation, and more affordable homes for Capetonians,” Hill-Lewis said. 

Cape Town Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis and the City Manager, Lungelo Mbandazayo, with the project team and Councillor Rob Quintas (far left) and Ald. Eddie Andrews, the City’s Deputy Mayor (far right in the orange shirt).

The Mayor said the project will transform Cape Town’s unfinished highways into a new link bridge and tunnel to relieve inner-city congestion and fix the connection between the foreshore and Atlantic Seaboard. 

“And most importantly, over the decades ahead, a brand new vibrant Foreshore neighbourhood will be unlocked, including affordable housing, walkable streets, and a tree-lined promenade along the harbour’s edge all the way to Sea Point.

“Cape Town is one of the world’s great port cities, and everything about our identity is shaped by the sea. By removing the physical barriers between city and sea, we will reconnect with our maritime identity and heritage,” Hill-Lewis said. 

“We want Cape Town to be the City of Hope in South Africa. That means doing bold things, and that’s exactly what we are doing today. Not since before the 2010 World Cup has Cape Town enjoyed major public road and transport upgrades. Now we are doing two – the expansion of the MyCiTi bus network to Khayelitsha and Mitchells Plain, which is under construction along all 42km of that project; and now this Foreshore Precinct Project,” Hill-Lewis said. 

An archive photo of the Foreshore precinct in the 1970s.

He said that while there is still much to do, the public-facing phase has begun. 

“We are releasing drawings to begin a process of public consultation. Then the final designs will be turned into detailed engineering designs before procurement can begin and, eventually, construction. But since the public will soon be consulted on these plans for the first time, now is the right time to make public what we’ve been working on behind the scenes,” Hill-Lewis said. 

The City said it is proposing to do the project in two halves, with the existing freeways continuing to operate to avoid crippling traffic congestion.

“During the first phase of construction, an iconic new bridge will be built over Buitengracht, and the incoming elevated freeway will be widened, linking the inbound freeway directly to Helen Suzman Boulevard. This will include a large new public park and public spaces below. This means everyone heading from the foreshore towards Green Point, Sea Point and beyond, will effectively bypass the CBD altogether. This will make a big difference in alleviating congestion,” Hill-Lewis said. 

The second phase will see an outbound tunnel constructed with the existing outbound elevated freeway being demolished. 

This would enable the creation of a new promenade and brand new Foreshore neighbourhood. 

While the development of the bridges and tunnel will take the best part of the next decade to construct, all of the new neighbourhoods will unfold even beyond that, Hill-Lewis said. This project will unlock growth and development in the city for the next two to three decades.

The City is currently engaging Transnet about land that is owned by the Port Authority, in order to build the tunnel south of Duncan Road. 

City Manager Lungelo Mbandazayo said the project is an opportunity to transform and future-proof Cape Town’s CBD.

“Every generation has the responsibility to plan ahead for what is needed in decades to come, and this is our turn. We have been working on these solutions for many years; we have and continue to engage stakeholders across the three spheres of government, as well as our colleagues at the relevant state-owned entities,” he said. 

Mbandazayo said the most important phase is now, where the proposal is being presented to Capetonians. 

“We have created a special online hub where you, the public, can see all of the detailed proposals and announcements. We will update the information as we go along, and inform you of the engagement and public participation opportunities. Please register and be part of this exciting and important journey. This is your city, and we want you to be involved,” he said. 

Cape Town’s unfinished Foreshore freeways are expected to be completed after more than 50 years.

The City said it will begin the first of many public participation processes about key steps that are needed to realise the proposed vision.

The City will also announce further public participation processes and engagement opportunities as these become available in the coming months; these include road scheme amendments, heritage impact assessments, and other statutory requirements.

Project updates can be found at https://www.foreshore.capetown