Key Takeaways
- Cape Town will demolish its unfinished “highways to nowhere” to create a new link bridge, tunnel, promenade, and vibrant Foreshore neighbourhood.
- The project is divided into two phases to keep existing freeways operational and avoid severe traffic disruption.
- Phase 1 will build an iconic bridge over Buitengracht, widen the inbound elevated freeway, and add a large public park beneath it, allowing traffic to bypass the CBD.
- Phase 2 will construct an outbound tunnel, demolish the outbound elevated freeway, and replace it with a tree‑lined promenade and new residential area featuring affordable housing.
- Public consultation will begin immediately, with detailed engineering designs to follow before procurement and construction.
- The initiative aims to relieve inner‑city congestion, improve walkability, increase green space, and deliver socio‑economic benefits to residents and businesses.
Project Overview and Objectives
Cape Town Mayor Geordin Hill‑Lewis unveiled a transformative plan to repurpose the city’s long‑standing unfinished highways into a modern transport corridor and a livable urban precinct. Speaking alongside Public Works Minister Dean Macpherson, Western Cape Premier Alan Winde, and Transnet CEO Michelle Phillips, Hill‑Lewis emphasized that the initiative will relieve chronic inner‑city congestion, restore the broken link between the Foreshore and the Atlantic Seaboard, and unlock a brand‑new neighbourhood characterized by affordable housing, walkable streets, and a scenic promenade. The mayor acknowledged that considerable work remains, but the release of preliminary drawings marks the start of a structured public consultation process that will inform final engineering designs, procurement, and eventual construction.
Historical Context of the Unfinished Highways
The elevated freeways that currently scar the Foreshore were conceived in the 1970s as part of an ambitious apartheid‑era freeway network intended to speed white suburban commuters into the city centre. However, funding shortfalls, shifting political priorities, and growing opposition left the structures incomplete, leaving concrete ribs and unused ramps that have become visual blights and underutilized infrastructure. Over the decades, these “highways to nowhere” have hindered urban cohesion, acted as barriers between the waterfront and the city, and contributed to traffic bottlenecks as drivers are forced to navigate awkward merges and divergences. The new project seeks to correct this legacy by integrating the existing concrete into a functional, aesthetically pleasing network that serves all residents.
Phase One: Bridge Construction and Traffic Rerouting
The first phase focuses on constructing an iconic new bridge over Buitengracht Street while widening the inbound elevated freeway to create a direct link to Helen Suzman Boulevard. This redesign will allow vehicles traveling from the Foreshore toward Green Point, Sea Point, and points beyond to bypass the central business district entirely, thereby reducing congestion on major arterial roads such as Strand Street and Wale Street. Beneath the widened freeway, the city plans to develop a large public park and versatile public spaces that will provide recreational amenities, improve storm‑water management, and enhance the visual appeal of the corridor. By maintaining the existing outbound freeway during this phase, the city aims to keep traffic flowing while the new bridge and park take shape.
Phase Two: Tunnel, Demolition, and Promenade Creation
Once the inbound improvements are operational and traffic patterns have adjusted, the second phase will commence. An outbound tunnel will be bored beneath the existing elevated structure, providing a seamless route for vehicles heading toward the Atlantic Seaboard. Following the tunnel’s completion, the outbound elevated freeway will be demolished, freeing up valuable linear space along the harbour edge. This cleared corridor will be transformed into a tree‑lined promenade that stretches from the Foreshore to Sea Point, offering pedestrians and cyclists a safe, scenic route with views of Table Bay and the iconic Table Mountain silhouette. The promenade will be interspersed with pocket parks, seating areas, and kiosks that encourage street‑level activity and local entrepreneurship.
Urban Design and Public Spaces
Central to the vision is the creation of a human‑scale environment that prioritizes pedestrians, cyclists, and public transit users over private automobiles. The new bridge and tunnel will be designed with aesthetic considerations in mind—featuring sleek, contemporary forms that complement the harbour setting while incorporating durable, low‑maintenance materials. Below the widened inbound freeway, the planned park will include indigenous planting, shaded walkways, and multipurpose lawns suitable for community events, markets, and fitness activities. The promenade will incorporate universal design principles, ensuring accessibility for people of all ages and abilities, and will be linked to existing bike lanes and MyCiTi bus routes to encourage modal shift away from car dependency.
Affordable Housing and Community Benefits
A cornerstone of the redevelopment is the delivery of affordable housing units within the newly unlocked Foreshore neighbourhood. The city intends to allocate a significant portion of the reclaimed land to mixed‑income residential developments, with a target of at least 30 % of units priced below market rates to address Cape Town’s pressing housing shortage. These homes will be situated within walking distance of the promenade, parks, and public transport nodes, reducing residents’ reliance on private vehicles and lowering living costs. In addition to housing, the project is expected to generate construction jobs, stimulate local businesses, and increase property values in a manner that benefits existing communities through inclusive growth strategies and anti‑displacement measures.
Environmental and Sustainability Considerations
Environmental stewardship underpins the project’s design philosophy. The tunnel will be equipped with ventilation systems that minimize air‑quality impacts, and the demolition of the outbound freeway will recycle concrete and steel for use in the new bridge and park structures, reducing the demand for virgin materials. The extensive planting scheme—featuring native trees, shrubs, and groundcovers—will improve biodiversity, sequester carbon, and mitigate the urban heat island effect. Storm‑water management will be integrated into the park’s landscape through bioswales and permeable surfaces, decreasing runoff into the harbour and enhancing water quality. Overall, the initiative aligns with Cape Town’s climate‑action goals and the Western Cape Province’s sustainability framework.
Next Steps, Public Consultation, and Timeline
Mayor Hill‑Lewis announced that the city will immediately release the preliminary drawings to trigger a formal public consultation process. Residents, businesses, advocacy groups, and other stakeholders will be invited to provide feedback on the design, anticipated impacts, and desired amenities. This input will be refined into detailed engineering designs, after which a procurement phase will select contractors through transparent bidding procedures. Construction is slated to commence once contracts are awarded, with the city aiming to complete Phase 1 within approximately three years and Phase 2 within an additional five‑year window, contingent on funding availability and regulatory approvals. Throughout the timeline, the city pledges to provide regular updates and maintain the existing freeways in operation to safeguard mobility.
By reimagining a legacy of incomplete infrastructure as a catalyst for connective, inclusive, and sustainable urban growth, Cape Town’s highways‑to‑nowhere project promises to reshape the city’s flow, form, and future for generations to come.