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Cape Town SWC road closures

Cape Town - “Traffic will be affected on match days in Cape Town during the 2010 Soccer World Cup due to a number of necessary road closures. The City asks the public to be aware of these and to plan their routes and travel times accordingly. We apologise for any inconvenience caused,” said the City’s Director: Communication and 2010 spokesperson, Pieter Cronje.

Public transport services have been extended as part of the City’s transport plan for the event. “We encourage commuters to utilise these extended public transport services offered by the City,” said Peter Sole, Manager: 2010 Transport Operations.

All trains and certain train stations will have additional security for the duration of the World Cup. In addition, the use of non-motorised transport and car pooling is greatly encouraged.

ROAD CLOSURES ON CAPE TOWN MATCH DAYS

Routes affected within the Central Business District (CBD) 
Four hours before kick-off there will be no general access to Hertzog Boulevard between Civic Avenue and Heerengracht, along Hans Strijdom Avenue, and along Adderley Street between Strand Street and Hertzog Boulevard. Premises in this area will be provided with the necessary access via alternative routes and opening the left lane of affected roads as required. The intersections of Hans Strijdom, at Long and Loop Streets will remain open to crossing traffic at all times, but may close for short periods before and after matches to give priority to the Match Day shuttle.

CBD connections to Green Point, Sea Point, Fresnaye and Atlantic Seaboard
Western Boulevard will be closed in both directions, from Buitengragt in the central business district (CBD), to the Beach Road intersection at Three Anchor Bay. However, motorists will be able to exit the V&A Waterfront using Portswood Road, turning left into Western Boulevard, and then making a left turn only into Buitengragt.

Somerset Road will be closed from Buitengragt to Ebenezer Road in both directions between Ebenezer Road and York Road from 4 hours before the match to 4 hours after final whistle. From Ebenezer Road to York Road, the CBD-bound carriageway will be closed. However, two-way traffic will be accommodated on the Sea Point-bound carriageway. This route is intended for local access only, and should be avoided by non-residents.

Road closures will mostly impact upon traffic leaving the CBD during the evening peak period. People travelling to the Bantry Bay, Clifton and Camps Bay areas along the Atlantic Seaboard are advised to use Kloof Nek Road when leaving the city centre. During match day closures, public transport will be redirected onto High Level Road. It is thus recommended that, due to the expected congestion on High Level Road, Kloof Nek Road be used by general traffic.

On match days, it is expected that traffic volumes on High Level and Kloof Nek Roads as well as at the  Buitengragt intersections will be very heavy. Thus, wherever possible, it is recommended that commuters adjust their routes and travel times to avoid these routes during road closures.

At the Stadium
Beach Road from Fritz Sonnenberg Road to Haul Road will be open for two-way traffic on the seaward carriageway. The mountain side carriageway will be open to accredited vehicles only. Beach Road from Haul to Portswood Road will be open for one-way traffic towards the CBD. Vehicles exiting the V&A Waterfront in the direction of Mouille Point will access Beach Road via Haul Road. Fritz Sonnenberg Road south-east of the Metropolitan Golf Course entrance, Vlei Road and Fort Wynyard Road will be closed to all but accredited vehicles.

ROAD CLOSURES FOR THE DURATION OF THE 2010 EVENT

Around FIFA Fan Fest on Grand Parade
The Grand Parade in the centre of Cape Town, near Cape Town Station, is the venue for the FIFA Fan Fest™. This is a festival venue at which all the matches played will be televised on big screens in addition to daily live entertainment. Minimal road closures will enhance accessibility to the venue. As of 1 May the closures will be:-

· Lower Plein Street between Darling and Castle Streets in the direction of Cape Town Station.  Lower Plein Street will remain open for traffic moving between Castle and Darling Streets in the direction of the mountain, and
· Corporation Street between Longmarket and Darling Streets.

Between June 6 and July 14 the following additional road closures will be in place:
·  Darling Street between Buitenkant and Plein Streets will be closed.
·  The eastbound (Woodstock direction) carriageway of Darling Street between Plein and Adderley Streets will be closed for the duration.
·  Plein Street between Longmarket and Darling Streets will operate one-way only in the direction of Darling Street.
·  Corporation and Parade Streets will be closed to general traffic between Caledon and Darling Streets with the exception of vehicles requiring access to premises in these streets.
·  Lower Plein Street will be open daily only for one-way traffic in the direction of the mountain in the morning up to 09:30 after which the road will be closed to traffic.

Around the Stadium
Fritz Sonnenberg Road south-east of the Metropolitan Golf Course entrance, Vlei Road and Fort Wynyard Road will be closed with access for accredited vehicles only.
Granger Bay Boulevard from Western Boulevard Circle to Beach Road will be closed to all vehicles.

IMPACT OF ROAD CLOSURES ON NORMAL PUBLIC TRANSPORT

Public transport services that, for any portion of their routes, operate along closed or restricted roads may have some route section deviations. Bus services provided by Golden Arrow will be affected by the envisaged road closures in the Green Point area as well as the CBD on both match and non-match days. The affected services in the different areas, as well as their rerouting, are listed below:

Bus services travelling through the Green Point area
On match days, the section of Somerset Road in Green Point, i.e. between York Road and Buitengragt, will be closed to traffic.

All bus services from the CBD travelling through the Green Point area will be redirected to High Level Road, as will all buses travelling from the Camps Bay area through Green Point towards the CBD. Buses will be able to enter Main Road from High Level Road along Cavalcade and Glengariff Roads using existing bus stops on High Level Road.

Bus services entering the CBD
All bus services affected by the road closures will be redirected. Golden Arrow is still to confirm the new route, but all services will terminate at the Golden Acre. Updated information is available from the 24/7 Transport Information Centre on 0800 65 64 63. Road closures will have a minimal impact on services entering the CBD via Darling Street.

MINIBUS TAXI SERVICES
The minibus taxi industry is being consulted with regard to routes and pick-up/drop-off areas that have to be rerouted or moved. These will be communicated as soon as finality is reached.

SWITCH TO PUBLIC TRANSPORT
All fans and commuters travelling to the CBD (City Centre) are strongly encouraged to use public transport, non-motorised transport and car pooling. The World Cup period is an ideal opportunity to try out the extended public transport services. Trains and certain train stations will have additional security measures in place for the duration of the 2010 Soccer World Cup.

At the time of going live, no similar road closure statements had been received from any of the other SWC venues.

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