A temporary traffic measure introduced after a fire beneath a Salt River bridge has stretched into a decade-long problem, with commuters still dealing with daily congestion on one of Cape Town’s key routes. What was meant to be a short-term safety precaution has evolved into a persistent bottleneck affecting both motorists and businesses.
The issue centres on the Voortrekker Road bridge in Salt River, where a fire in 2015 caused structural damage beneath the roadway. As a precaution, one lane was closed to reduce weight on the affected section of the bridge.
More than ten years later, that restriction remains in place, forcing traffic from two lanes into one and creating a daily choke point for vehicles travelling between the northern and southern suburbs.
Residents and commuters say the merging point has become a consistent source of frustration, particularly during peak hours when traffic volumes are at their highest. The narrowing of the roadway often leads to slow-moving traffic, delays and near-misses as drivers compete for space.
The problem is compounded by surrounding activity in the area. Heavy trucks linked to nearby industrial operations frequently use the route, while taxis stopping to pick up and drop off passengers add further disruption to the already constrained flow of traffic.
A nearby MyCiTi bus stop also contributes to the congestion, as buses entering and exiting the traffic stream create a ripple effect that extends beyond the immediate bridge area.
Local businesses have also felt the impact, with some reporting reduced accessibility for customers during periods of heavy congestion. In cases where incidents or roadblocks occur nearby, traffic can back up significantly, affecting surrounding roads and intersections.
City officials have confirmed that structural repairs to the bridge have now been signed off, with plans underway to reopen the affected lane. If all proceeds as expected, the lane could be restored before the end of the month, offering long-awaited relief to commuters. Until then, the Salt River bridge remains a clear example of how temporary infrastructure measures can evolve into long-term challenges, with ongoing implications for traffic flow and urban mobility in Cape Town.
Source: IOL – Murray Swart.
