The R7-billion rollout of the second phase of Cape Town’s MyCiTi bus service, linking Khayelitsha, Mitchells Plain and other communities across the metro south east corridor, is 50% complete, says City of Cape Town (CoCT) Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis.

Work on the 44-month project started in 2022.

It is the largest infrastructure project currently on the go in the Western Cape.

The price tag on the project includes all the stations and depots along the route, as well as a free-standing elevated traffic circle.

“[This] circle will be the first in South Africa, demonstrating civil engineering at its best, and we are so proud to see this happening right here, in Cape Town,” says Hill-Lewis.

“The metro-south east MyCiTi expansion is the biggest financial investment in public transport by any metro to date.”

The circle is located at the intersection of Govan Mbeki road (M9) and Jan Smuts drive (M17), in Lansdowne.

In August last year, CoCT implemented a contra-flow for westbound traffic travelling along Govan Mbeki road towards Wynberg to allow the contractor to start with the reconstruction and widening of the westbound carriageway.

The next step is for the project team to convert the signalised intersection of Govan Mbeki road and Jan Smuts drive into a traffic circle early in December, with the sky circle to be constructed over this traffic circle.

Once complete, the elevated circle will be about 6.2 m above the ground.

It will be reserved for the exclusive use of MyCiTi buses.

“By separating the MyCiTi buses from general traffic, the city will ensure the service operates optimally between Mitchells Plain and Khayelitsha, and Wynberg and Claremont without being delayed by the traffic or congestion at the ground level of the intersection,” explains CoCT Urban Mobility MMC Rob Quintas.

“This design will benefit MyCiTi commuters as it will reduce the travelling time to their destinations.”

The proposed Hanover Park median station will be the closest MyCiTi station to this intersection, and will serve commuters along the trunk route to operate along Govan Mbeki road.

The station will be built at a later stage, closer to the implementation date of the service.