Main Road rehabilition – Invitation to Open House for Phase 3

In March 2008, the City of Cape Town commenced with the rehabilitation of a 4.5km portion of the road from Atlantic Road in Muizenberg to Clovelly Road in Fish Hoek. The work is being undertaken in three phases and entails the rebuilding of the road and replacing all the underground services including the bulk water main, the local water main, gravity sewers, stormwater pipes and culverts.

Phase 1 (“Labia” to Leighton Road) was completed during December 2010. Phase 2 (Leighton Road to Bible Institute) is currently underway and is anticipated to be completed by end May 2013. Phase 3 is anticipated to commence in August 2013 and includes two sections, Main Road from the Bible Institute to Clovelly Road, including the structure supporting the footway above Clovelly station, and the section of Main Road from Labia to York Road.

Kayad Knight Piesold Consulting Engineers have been appointed by the City of Cape Town to undertake the design work and to supervise the appointed contractor for the duration of the contract. The tender documentation for Phase 3 is currently being prepared by the engineers.

In preparation for the commencement of Phase 3 of the construction works, a public Open House is to be held on Thursday, 16th May 2013 between 16h00 – 19h00 at the Holy Trinity Anglican Church (hall), Kalk Bay.

INVITATION TO PUBLIC OPEN HOUSE EVENT:

DATE: Thursday, 16 May 2013

VENUE: Holy Trinity Anglican Church (hall), 42 Main Road, Kalk Bay

TIME: 16h00 – 19h00

You may attend at any convenient time between 16h00 and 19h00

The Open House will not involve a formal presentation. Invitees are welcome to visit any time between 16h00 and 19h00. Informative material concerning the project will be on display in poster format. Furthermore, the project team will be in attendance should you have specific queries in relation to the project.

Should you or your organization wish to attend, kindly RSVP by no later than the 14 May 2013 to Kim Diedericks, Community Liaison Officer, Chand Environmental Consultants, PO Box 238, Plumstead, 7801; Fax: 021-762 3240; Tel: 021-762 3050 or Email: kim@chand.co.za.

Explanation of Main Rd stop-go timing

The road building team has received several complaints last week regarding the “longer than usual” delays and would like to explain the operation of the stop-go system which has been set up and the contributing factors which can cause delays.

The maximum time allowed for each queue and the sequence in which the cycle must operate is as follows:

1) Traffic from Muizenberg towards Fish Hoek (Southbound) – 7 minutes

2) Traffic from Clairvaux Road (Boyes Drive) – 5 minutes

3) Traffic from harbour into Main Road.

4) Traffic from Fish Hoek towards Muizenberg (Northbound) – 7minutes

5) Traffic from harbour into Main Road.

Runs 1 to 5 are repeated on an on-going basis. No deviation from this set up is allowed. The maximum cycle times are never exceeded on any one approach to prevent the queue lengths becoming too long on the other two approaches. The aim is to attempt to balance the 3 queue lengths at all times.

The harbour parking availability is being carefully monitored and the VMS signs are activated to read “FULL” whenever necessary.

Should you notice any change to the system as set out above, please report this to Chand. We request that you provide us with a detailed account of what you have experienced i.e. direction, time of day, date etc. so that we can relay constructive complaints/comments to the engineers and project team on site.

There are a number of factors that have a considerable negative effect on the smooth flow of traffic which include inter alia:

The good weather we have experienced recently is believed to have encouraged an influx of visitors to the area;

The area is also believed to be experiencing an increase in the number of tourists, most likely due to the Argus Cycle Tour as well as general seasonal tourism;

Kalk Harbour entrance is extremely difficult to manage due to the railway level crossing. Limited queuing space and the fact that the general public tend to ignore the VMS signboards and the flagmen advising them that the harbour is full all contribute to the tailbacks which have been experienced;

Regular vehicle breaking downs and stalling is experienced;

Access for emergency service vehicles causes delays as these vehicles must be given priority;

Regular incidents of drivers falling asleep whilst waiting for the signals to turn green;

General tendency of motorists not keeping up with the vehicles in front of them thereby reducing the traffic volume per cycle.

The team understands that the prolonged nature of this project is creating a heightened sense of frustration for the residential component of the community, business owners, general road users as well as communities surrounding the Kalk Bay area.

Please know that the project team is very much aware of the issues and is continually monitoring the traffic system and trying their best to manage the traffic while undertaking the much needed road rehabilitation and infrastructure upgrading.

Kalk Bay road works

Main Road, Kalk Bay will revert to a stop-go system on Monday, 4th February 2013 from 09h00.

Main Road Kalk Bay open to two-way traffic for holiday season

Please be advised that Main Road between Clairvaux Road and Kalk Bay Harbour will be opened to two-way traffic from 16h00 today (6 December 2012).

The stop-go system will not be in place during the holiday season. A temporary surface has been constructed over the works area and the original traffic signals will be operational for this period.

Main Road will remain open to two-way traffic until the end of January 2013.

Disrupted access to Kalk Bay harbour entrance on Mon, 12 Nov

Please be advised that the road contractor will be starting with the asphalt base at Kalk Bay harbour access on Monday, 12th November 2012. During this operation on Monday, vehicular access to and from Main Road to the harbour will occasionally be disrupted.

The Contractor will undertake as far as possible to provide access during this time and to minimise disruption.

Traffic Management at Main/Clairvaux Rd Intersection, Kalk Bay

The project team would like to apologise for the inconvenience caused to all of the road users during this past week – commencing on Monday 3 September 2012 .

We  are working continually to ensure that any delays are managed and that the timing of the stop/go system is correct to ensure a smoother flow of traffic.

We would like to summarise the events of the past few days as follows:

Prior to the commencement of the stop/go system Chand made the following attempts to notify residents and the wider Cape Town road using community:

• The situation was tabled and discussed at the Community Liaison Meeting on 20 August 2012.

• A pre-warning email was sent out on Wed 29 August discussing the imminent situation to everyone registered as interested and affected parties on the database. This email explained that the lights would all be set to red flashing as a precursor for the pending stop/go system to prepare road users.

• This message was also relayed to all major radio stations on Thursday 30 August.

• A further email was sent to the database on Monday 2 September at 9.52am informing everyone that the stop/go system would commence that day after lunch time.

• This message was also broadcast to all major radio stations on Monday throughout the day.

• The VMS System was also operational, informing motorists of the delay and suggesting an alternative route/ Ou Kaapse Weg.

• Radio stations across Cape Town have continued to broadcast the message and will do so for an extended amount of time.

The reasons for the delays experienced can be attributed to the following:

The City of Cape Town and the project team/engineers were always aware that at certain times of the day traffic would not get through on one green cycle and this was explained at the CLM on 20 August 2012.

What compounded the problem on Monday initially, was that the actual change to a stop / go system was delayed from the non-peak time of 11 am as a consequence of a faulty Controller which automatically operates the three signals according to a pre-planned programme. As a result of this, the changeover only took place just before the afternoon peak traffic flow. The changeover itself is not an instantaneous exercise and consequently queues develop during the changeover which exceed the normal traffic volumes. The automatic timing for the three directions could not cope with the queues which had developed as a result of it being peak time. Had the project team been able to start at 11am when traffic flows were smaller the automatic system may have cleared the queues quicker.

During this time it was discovered that the Controller that had been supplied did not have a manual override to change the pre-programmed timing. To add to this situation between 4pm and 5pm a ready mix concrete truck drove into the Atlantic Road, Rail over Road bridge. This caused a long tailback for north and eastbound traffic which went into the one way system effectively blocking all southbound traffic from the Main Road and Boyes Drive.

The cement mixer stuck under the Atlantic Rd bridge

The railway bridge with its clearly visible warning sign

A manual override system was installed into the Controller on Tuesday afternoon. Currently the intersection is being operated on a semi-automatic system with a manual override, using flagmen.

It appears from the general feedback and observations that this is working satisfactorily and that at most times of the day queues are being cleared through one green cycle on all three legs of the intersection.

We are sympathetic to your situation and please know that we are doing everything we can to ensure smooth traffic flows for all those affected.

Chand Environmental

New stop/go system for next phase of Kalk Bay Main Road upgrade

A new stop/go traffic control system has been implemented in conjunction with the start of the next phase of the Kalk Bay Main Road infrastructure upgrade.

Main Road between Clairvaux and Rouxville Roads was opened to two-way traffic on Monday, 3 September. The section between Clairvaux Road and the Bible Institute is operating as a signalised stop/go system, utilising three new sets of temporary traffic signals.

The temporary traffic signals were installed together with a dedicated signal controller. The Metrorail crossing will be managed manually, by trained personnel. The boom control and flashing red lights at the level crossing will remain in place.

Each cycle of the signal timing will operate on an approximate two to five minute cycle, but will be adjusted as circumstances warrant. The three cycles are set up as follows:

• Clairvaux Road: Left or right turning traffic into Main Road

• Main Road southbound: Right turning into Clairvaux Road or straight on to Clovelly

• Main Road northbound: Left turning into Clairvaux Road or straight on to Muizenberg

In addition three variable messaging signs will be erected to indicate the availability of public parking at the harbour. This is in an attempt to prevent queues developing at the harbour entrance that may impact on the Main Road through-traffic. The messaging signs will be placed as follows:

• At the harbour entrance

• On Clairvaux Road

• On Main Road before the Kalk Bay Station parking area

The City apologises for the inconvenience and thanks residents for their patience while the road works are underway.

Two-way traffic to recommence today in Kalk Bay

It is anticipated that after lunch time today, Main Road between Clairvaux and Rouxville Roads, will be opened to two-way traffic.

The section of Main Road between Clairvaux Road and the Bible Institute, will start operating as a signalised stop/go system, utilising three new sets of temporary traffic signals. The existing traffic signals will be switched off at this stage

Changes to traffic signals at Main Rd / Clairvaux intersection

The existing traffic lights at the Main Road and Clairvaux Road intersection, and Main Road and the Kalk Bay Harbour entrance have been set to flashing red mode for all directions.

Motorists are obliged to treat these intersections as a 3-way stop and are requested to exercise extreme caution when traveling through these intersections.

This situation has been created as a precursor to the implementation of the signalised stop / go system south of Clairvaux Road, and to prepare road users for the pending temporary traffic management system.

The temporary traffic management system is expected to be operational early next week, but is dependent on the Contractor completing some modifications to the existing Main Road north of Clairvaux Road.

Main Road between Clairvaux and Rouxville Roads will then be opened to two-way traffic and the section of Main Road between Clairvaux Road and the Bible Institute, will start operating as a signalised stop/go system, utilising three new sets of temporary traffic signals. The existing traffic signals will be switched off at this stage.

Details of implementation :

Three sets of temporary traffic signals will be installed together with a dedicated signal controller. This will be similar to the system installed under the Phase 1 contract. The Metrorail crossing will be managed manually, by trained personnel. The boom control and flashing red lights at the level crossing will remain in place.

Each cycle of the signal timing will operate on an approximate two to five minute cycle but will be adjusted as circumstances warrant. The three cycles will be set up as follows:

1.Clairvaux Road : Left or right turning traffic into Main Road.

2.Main Road Southbound : Right turning into Clairvaux Road or straight on to Clovelly.

3.Main Road Northbound : Left turning into Clairvaux Road or straight on to Muizenberg.

In addition three variable messaging signs (VMS’s) will be erected to indicate in advance the availability of public parking at the harbour in an attempt to prevent queues developing at the harbour entrance which may impact on the Main Road through traffic. The VMS will be erected as follows:

1. at the harbour entrance,

2. on Clairvaux Road; and

3. on Main Road before the Kalk Bay Station parking area.

Kalk Bay Roadworks Update

Please be advised that Main Road will unfortunately not be opened to two-way traffic to Clairvaux Road by the end of this week as previously communicated.

The continuous inclement weather has delayed works to the extent that the Contract has not been able to complete the sewer manhole rehabilitation or the footway asphalt. Depending on the weather, the Contractor expects to complete these works and open Main Road to two-way traffic before the end of August 2012. The works are currently 3 weeks behind programme at this stage.

Section G And H (Programme and Implementation)

Once Main Road is opened to two traffic up to Clairvaux Road, work on Section G will commence. Before work can commence, temporary signals and control equipment for a stop-go system will be installed.

The existing traffic signals at the Clairvaux intersection and the harbour entrance will be de-activated and 3 sets of temporary stop/go signals installed together with a dedicated signal controller. This will be similar to the system installed under the Phase 1 contract. The Metrorail crossing will be managed manually, by trained personnel.

Each signal will operate on an approximate two to five minute cycle but will be adjusted as circumstances warrant. The three cycles will be set up as follows:

1. Clairvaux Road :

Left or right turning traffic into Main Road.

2. Main Road Southbound :

Right turning into Clairvaux Road or straight on to Clovelly.

3. Main Road Northbound :

Left turning into Clairvaux Road or straight on to Muizenberg.

In addition 3 variable messaging signs (VMS’s) will be erected to indicate the availability of public parking at the harbour. The purpose of these signs is to indicate, in advance, the availability of parking in an attempt to prevent gridlock at the harbour entrance. One VMS will be erected at the harbour entrance, another on Clairvaux Road and the third one on Main Road before the Kalk Bay Station parking area.

Section G Southbound involves the construction of a new sewer, stormwater reticulation and stormwater culvert crossing at Clairvaux intersection. It is expected that this section will take 10 weeks to complete depending on the quantity of rock encountered.

Section H northbound includes the construction of both the 700 and 300 water mains which will be laid in a common trench. This should reduce the overall construction time provided that the Contractor can handle the significant quantity of hard rock excavation that is expected. This section also includes the extension of the stormwater culvert and associated pipes and catchpits needed to drain the road and adjacent areas.

Work on the Clairvaux Road tie-in to main Road will be constructed on completion of Section H.

It was originally programmed to complete this section by December 2012 but because of the concentration of services and the hard rock, it is now envisaged that the work will extend into 2013. However, the project team will ensure that the stop-go system will not be in place during the December holiday shut down period and that Section H will be trafficable, albeit on a temporary surface.