Plans to extend the R300 from the N1 to the urban edge north of Wellington Road in Durbanville is taking shape.
Guillaume Nel Environmental Consultants (GNEC) have been appointed by the Western Cape department of transport and public works to facilitate the environmental impact assessment (EIA) application process in terms of the National Environmental Management Act (Nema).
According to a spokesperson of GNEC the road project is only in the concept and viability phase, and thus the cost of the project is not finalised at this stage.
“There are therefore also no definite dates yet when construction work will start,” she says.
“According to the legislated timeframes the proposed project may take up to a year and a half to receive environmental authorisation from the department of environmental affairs and development planning,” she says.
Increased traffic volumes
An executive summary of the first draft basic assessment report states that there has been a continuous influx of more permanent residents to the Western Cape.
“The northern suburbs of Cape Town has experienced numerous new residential developments. The increased traffic volumes have resulted in increased travelling times being experienced,” says the report.
The R300 has been planned and provisioned for over the past 49 years since the proclamation of the road reserve in 1973.
The road will ultimately form a ring road around the Cape metropole and will accommodate the increasing traffic volume on the primary road network.
The proposed work will include the extension of the existing R300 as a six-lane freeway. There will be two-lane ramp connections and two-lane termini at De Bron Road, Legato Drive and Wellington Road.
The first lane of each ramp connection will merge with the freeway lane and the second ramp lane will become an auxiliary lane between interchanges.
Closure of Langeberg Road
To enable the construction of this extension to the R300 part of the proposed development also entails construction and alteration to the following roadways: N1 freeway; Stellenberg systems interchange, De Bron Road; Legato Drive; Amadeus Drive (with no connecting ramps and a road-over-road structure) and Wellington Road, as well as the closure of Langeberg Road, which function has been replaced by Legato Drive and Amadeus Drive, and the closure of Madeliefie Street.
The proposed works will also entail the maintenance of existing stormwater structures, as well as the construction of new stormwater structures and bridge structures.
The R300 is proposed as an overpass to the N1 due to the foundation levels of the existing Stellenberg interchange ramps. This will require that the N1 be vertically realigned between the Old Oak bridge and Brackenfell Boulevard bridge.
At De Bron Road the R300 is proposed as an underpass as the alternatives would require unfeasible filling of either the R300 or De Bron Road itself and would not suit the topography of the surrounding area.
At Legato Drive the R300 is proposed as an overpass. The deciding factor here is the natural topography of the surrounding and the fact that the alternative would require an inferior alignment and the reconstruction of a portion of existing infrastructure.
The R300 is proposed as an underpass to Amadeus Drive due to the topography having a crest at this location and any alternative would be non-viable.
At Wellington Road the R300 is proposed as an overpass. The deciding factor here is the natural topography of the surround and the fact that the alternative would require an inferior alignment and the reconstruction of a portion of existing infrastructure.
Until 12 September
A public participation process will commence to provide people who may be affected by the proposed development with an opportunity to comment and to raise issues of concern about the project or to make suggestions that may result in enhanced benefits for the project.
These issues will be addressed and included in the final basic assessment report, which will be submitted to the department of environmental affairs and development planning to make a decision on whether to approve the proposed development or not.
The registration period for interested and affected parties has opened on 8 August and will continue until 12 September.
- People can register on a registration form and submit it to W Cordier on r300@gnec.co.za. Visit www.gnec.co.za or phone GNEC on 021 870 1874 for information on where to obtain a registration form.
