More than R 1,5 billion is being spent on the upgrade of roads in Cape Town, in preparation for the FIFA World Cup, reports the Cape Times.

The Bus Rapid Transport system is being constructed between the city and the Koeberg area, as well as between Klipfontein and the city.   Both will be completed before June.

Cycle lanes between the R27, and Table View, and the city are also being constructed.  Cycle lanes are planned as the preferred means of transport to the Cape Town stadium, even though the World Cup months of June and July are traditional wet winter months in the Cape!   “We are building a lot of cycle lanes so that people can cycle to different events and viewing areas during the World Cup” said Trevor Steyn, City Transport Executive Support Officer.

The Hospital Bend upgrade, the airport road upgrade, and the section between R300 and Vanguard Drive, are all expected to be completed by 31 March.   Upgrades are also planned for Symphony Way and Fritz Sonnenberg Street from Granger Bay.

The report also refers to “An inner city transport system is to be set up which will include the CBD and offshore (definition not provided), the Port of Cape Town and the Victoria and Alfred Waterfront as well as all the suburbs of the City Bowl.  The project would extend eastwards to include Green Point, Sea Point and Camps Bay and then the Culemborg area, Woodstock, Salt River, Observatory and Mowbray”.  Unfortunately the report does not specify exactly what this “inner city transport system” is, but it is planned to be finished by 30 April.

All road signage upgrades will be completed by April.

Chris von Ulmenstein, Whale Cottage Portfolio: www.whalecottage.com