Mitchells Plain: Motorists using AZ Berman Drive will move onto the newly completed southbound carriageway from Friday, 26th June, as the City of Cape Town advances the MyCiTi Phase 2A project between the BP service station and Mitchells Plain Police Station. Two lanes will remain open in each direction, while temporary markings, cones and construction signs guide traffic through the area as contractors complete the remaining road and public transport work.
Traffic Moves Onto New Carriageway
The City of Cape Town will introduce a major traffic change along AZ Berman Drive on Friday as the long-running MyCiTi construction project enters another important phase.
Vehicles travelling through the section between the BP service station and Mitchells Plain Police Station will be transferred onto the newly completed southbound carriageway. The change will allow contractors to work on the remaining road section without closing one of Mitchells Plain’s busiest transport routes.
The City has confirmed that two lanes will remain available in each direction. Opposing traffic flows will be separated by cones and temporary road markings, while advance warning signs will direct motorists before they enter the altered section.
The new layout will require extra caution during the first few peak-hour periods. Many motorists travel the route daily and may instinctively follow the old lane pattern, particularly in darkness, rain or heavy traffic.
Mayoral Committee Member for Urban Mobility Rob Quintas urged drivers to reduce speed, follow the temporary signs and allow additional time for their journeys.
“The planned traffic lane switch from Friday, 26th June, will move motorists travelling between the BP service station and the Mitchells Plain Police Station onto the newly completed carriageway, with two lanes available in each direction,” Quintas said.
He said the City understood the disruption caused by the prolonged construction period but stressed that the work was necessary to support a larger public transport network serving the metro south-east.
Busy Route Serves Thousands Of Daily Commuters
AZ Berman Drive is a central transport artery through Mitchells Plain, connecting residential areas, schools, shopping centres, public facilities and routes leading towards the R300.
The road carries private vehicles, minibus taxis, buses, delivery vehicles and emergency services throughout the day. Any change to its lane configuration can therefore affect traffic far beyond the immediate construction zone.
Congestion is most likely during the morning and afternoon peaks, when vehicles entering from surrounding neighbourhoods merge with through-traffic. Delays may also develop near the Mitchells Plain Police Station and the BP service station as drivers adjust to the new carriageway.
The City has not announced a full road closure. Traffic will continue moving in both directions, but motorists should expect slower travel while the new arrangement settles.
Businesses, homes and public facilities with approved entrances will remain accessible. Drivers should follow local access signs rather than moving barriers or entering closed construction areas.
Project Approaches A Major Milestone
The AZ Berman Drive upgrade began in September 2023 and has required a series of temporary lane changes, road closures and diversions.
Construction has been completed in stages to keep the route open while contractors rebuilt sections of the road, widened carriageways and installed infrastructure for MyCiTi Phase 2A.
The Friday switch marks progress because motorists will begin using a newly constructed carriageway rather than a temporary shared section. It also gives contractors access to the remaining work area and brings the main road project closer to completion.
The City says the wider construction package covers approximately 3.8 kilometres along AZ Berman Drive and Stock Road.
This includes about 3.3 kilometres of dedicated two-way MyCiTi bus lanes and a further 300 metres of northbound bus lane. Contractors are also installing drainage, street lighting, traffic signals, underground ducts, road markings, landscaping and electrical infrastructure.
The scale of the work explains why the project has taken several years. The corridor is not being resurfaced only. It is being rebuilt to support high-capacity public transport, general traffic, pedestrians and cyclists within the same road reserve.
Dedicated Red MyCiTi Lanes Take Shape
One of the most visible recent milestones has been the casting of the first red MyCiTi lanes along the route.
These lanes will eventually separate MyCiTi buses from general traffic, allowing buses to avoid some of the congestion affecting ordinary vehicles.
Dedicated lanes are a core part of the bus rapid transit model. Their purpose is to improve reliability by reducing the amount of time buses spend trapped in traffic.
That reliability is particularly important in Mitchells Plain and Khayelitsha, where many commuters travel long distances to employment and education centres elsewhere in Cape Town.
The new lanes will only deliver their full benefit once the wider Phase 2A network is operational. Until then, they remain part of a construction corridor that still requires stations, signals and connecting routes to be completed.
New Stations And Public Transport Facilities Planned
The AZ Berman Drive project includes foundations and supporting structures for future MyCiTi stations and stops.
Substructures are being built for closed median stations near Sesame and Marguerite, while open median facilities are planned close to the Sesame, Marguerite and Kerrem intersections.
Three open kerbside stops are also planned along Stock Road near Portland, Sheffield and the Stock Road station area.
The construction of station infrastructure alongside the road upgrade is intended to prevent the City from having to reopen completed sections later.
Traffic signals and road geometry must also be designed around the future movement of buses, pedestrians and connecting vehicles.
For commuters, the final result should provide more organised public transport access, safer transfers and shorter waiting times. However, those benefits depend on the full network being completed and services beginning across the corridor.
Phase 2A Aims To Link The Metro South-East
The AZ Berman Drive work forms part of MyCiTi Phase 2A, the City’s largest public transport expansion project.
The network is intended to connect Mitchells Plain and Khayelitsha with Wynberg and Claremont through dedicated bus lanes, stations and upgraded road corridors.
Cape Town’s metro south-east remains one of the most heavily travelled parts of the city. Thousands of commuters depend on minibus taxis, rail, Golden Arrow buses and existing MyCiTi services to reach jobs, schools and public facilities.
Long travel times and unreliable connections place a daily financial and social burden on households.
The City argues that Phase 2A will help create a more integrated system by allowing passengers to move between major centres without relying on multiple informal connections.
Construction is taking place across several corridors, including Govan Mbeki Road, Jan Smuts Drive, Turfhall Road and routes leading towards Wynberg and Claremont.
A major elevated traffic circle is also being developed at the intersection of Govan Mbeki Road and Jan Smuts Drive, while new MyCiTi facilities are under construction in Claremont.
The separate projects must eventually function as one network. Delays on one corridor can affect the timetable for the wider service.
Long Construction Period Has Tested Motorists
For motorists and businesses along AZ Berman Drive, the promise of improved transport has come with an extended period of disruption.
Repeated lane changes have slowed traffic and created confusion at intersections. Some road users have diverted through surrounding streets, adding pressure to local roads not designed to carry large volumes of through-traffic.
Public transport passengers have also dealt with temporary stop changes and altered boarding points.
The City has tried to carry out weekday construction between 9am and 3pm where possible, limiting the most disruptive work outside peak periods. Night work has also been used on sections between Nduli Street and Wespoort Drive.
However, temporary barriers and lane restrictions remain in place after contractors leave the site. This means the impact continues even when active construction is not under way.
Friday’s switch should improve the quality of the road surface used by motorists, but it will not bring all construction to an immediate end.
Pedestrian And Cycling Work Continues
The final stage of the project includes a separated non-motorised transport route along the eastern side of AZ Berman Drive.
The route is designed to provide safer space for pedestrians and cyclists travelling beside the busy road.
This work remains important because public transport journeys do not begin at the bus door. Commuters must first walk or cycle from homes, schools and workplaces to stations and stops.
Poor pavements, unsafe crossings and conflict with traffic can make those short trips dangerous.
The City expects the non-motorised transport component to be completed by February next year, provided construction remains on schedule.
Until then, pedestrians should use marked temporary walkways and avoid entering closed sections of the work site.
Drivers Warned Against Risky Behaviour
Traffic switches are among the most dangerous stages of a road project because road users must abandon familiar habits and follow temporary layouts.
A driver entering the old lane position at speed could encounter barriers, construction vehicles or oncoming traffic.
Motorists should reduce speed before reaching the affected section and avoid changing lanes unnecessarily inside the construction area.
Overtaking, cellphone use and ignoring cones could place workers and other road users at risk.
Minibus taxis, buses and heavy vehicles may require additional space when following curves around temporary barriers. Motorists should avoid travelling directly alongside them where lanes narrow.
The City has also warned drivers to follow the signs on the road rather than relying only on navigation applications. Digital maps may not immediately reflect the temporary arrangement.
Public Transport Users Should Monitor Updates
Passengers using MyCiTi and other public transport services should monitor official notices for stop changes or delays.
The City has not announced a major route suspension linked to Friday’s switch, but slower traffic could affect journey times.
Taxi operators and bus drivers will also need to become familiar with the new lane arrangement.
Commuters should leave earlier where possible, particularly during the first few days after the change.
The switch will take place one day before the weekend, giving some motorists time to adjust before the heavier weekday traffic returns.
Wider Benefits Still Depend On Completion
The AZ Berman Drive traffic switch is a meaningful construction milestone, but it should not be mistaken for the completion of MyCiTi Phase 2A.
Roads, bus lanes, stations and pedestrian facilities still need to be connected across a much wider area before passengers can use the full network.
The City also faces the challenge of ensuring that the new service integrates properly with existing taxis, rail services and bus operators.
For Mitchells Plain motorists, Friday’s immediate concern is simpler: the road layout will change.
Drivers who slow down, follow the temporary markings and plan for delays will help reduce the risk of crashes while contractors complete the next stage.
The switch moves one of the city’s largest transport projects forward, but Capetonians travelling through the area will continue living with construction until the remaining work is finished.
Q&A
When does the AZ Berman Drive traffic switch begin?
The switch begins on Friday, 26th June.
Which section is affected?
The affected section runs between the BP service station and Mitchells Plain Police Station.
Where will traffic move?
Motorists will move onto the newly completed southbound carriageway.
Will the road be closed?
No full closure has been announced. Two lanes will remain open in each direction.
Will businesses and public facilities remain accessible?
Yes. Approved access points will remain open during the remaining construction work.
Why is the traffic switch necessary?
The switch gives contractors access to the remaining work area while allowing traffic to continue moving through the route.
What is being built along AZ Berman Drive?
The project includes dedicated MyCiTi bus lanes, future stations and stops, traffic signals, drainage, street lighting and pedestrian and cycling infrastructure.
When will the project be fully completed?
The remaining non-motorised transport work is expected to continue until February next year, subject to the construction schedule.
What should motorists do?
Motorists should leave earlier, reduce speed and follow the temporary road markings and construction signs.
SAI Search Summary
The AZ Berman Drive traffic switch begins on Friday, 26th June, between the BP service station and Mitchells Plain Police Station. Motorists will move onto the newly completed southbound carriageway, with two lanes maintained in each direction. The change forms part of the MyCiTi Phase 2A project, which includes dedicated bus lanes, future stations, pedestrian and cycling infrastructure, traffic signals and road upgrades. Drivers should expect delays, follow temporary markings and allow additional travelling time.
Source: City of Cape Town Urban Mobility Directorate, Mayoral Committee Member for Urban Mobility Councillor Rob Quintas; MyCiTi, Staff Reporter.
