After almost two years of planning, a new pedestrian bridge was lowered into place over Lower Buitengracht in the Cape Town Central City yesterday. For many years, pedestrians walking between the V&A Waterfront and the CBD have had to take their life into their hands in trying to get across six lanes of fast moving traffic decending from the Foreshore Freeway into Lower Buitengracht. The City of Cape Town has used the preparations for the 2010 FIFA Football World Cup to improve pedestrian and cycle lanes in the city. Soon, dock workers and tourists alike will be able to avoid a potential death trap by using the new bridge. It will also open up a second pedestrian route to the CT Stadium via the V&A Waterfront.
The bridge spans the incoming lanes of Lower Buitengracht. Access is via North Wharf Square between the Holiday Inn and the Cullinan Hotel
Workers secure the sections of the bridge in place. The whole span was manufacturing off-site and lowered into place with a giant crane
The bridge slopes down onto the wide centre island - part of the road reserve for when the Foreshore Freeway was originally planned to continue all the way up Buitengracht to Wale St
The base of the bridge next to the outgoing lanes in Lower Buitengracht
Pedestrians will still have to across the outgoing portion of Lower Buitengracht at grade (ground level). The pedestrian bridge does not span the whole of Lower Buitengracht as this would make it difficult to complete the unfinished portion of the Foreshore Freeway, a plan still theoretically on the table
The central island has been nicely landscaped, with an additional pedestrian route connecting to Hans Strydom Rd
A red brick pedestrian crossing a block up from the new bridge (corner Buitengracht & Hans Strydom) was also completed yesterday
The unfinished portion of the Foreshore Freeway continues to loom large over the area
The ugly blank facade of the electrical sub-station, corner Lower Buitengracht and Coen Steytler, still mars the view as one exits the Central City. Anyone with any ideas for a beautiful mural?
Visitors to the Westin Grand Hotel and the CTICC will also benefit from improved pedestrian access
Pedestrians using the new bridge will get a good view of Cape Town's monument to the era of the concrete highway.
Amazing to see what has been accomplished in a few days! When will the bridge at Waterkant for those walking to the stadium be installed?
I’d LOVE to get a mural up on that wall! Is this something that is plausible?? I have some great vibrant illustrations of Cape Town that I think would add fantastic energy to that corner!
Great to see that a plan has finally been made for pedestrians travelling that route.
Both bridges will hopefully be ready by the end of April
i support jesse kramer, lets cover that ugly wall and creat a piece of african art for all the folks driving past that spot !!!
Via the Cape Town Partnership, I am going to approach the City Council to see if they will give permission for the wall to be appropriately decorated
Hi Andrew,
Is it not strange that the DA controlled city council spents (millions?) on a pedestrian bridge for tourist and yet countless dangerous intersections in the townships (require) similar structures.