Yesterday, 18 October 2021, the City of Cape Town’s Mayoral Committee Member for Transport, Councillor Rob Quintas, shines the spotlight on two pedestrian bridges in the Cape Town CBD. The bridges were constructed ahead of the 2010 Soccer World Cup to make it easy for spectators to get to the stadium for events. Since then, thousands of pedestrians have been using the bridges to cross the very busy Buitengracht at Waterkant Street and at Walter Sisulu Avenue.
The pedestrian bridge on Waterkant Street across Buitengracht:
This bridge was constructed as a part of the non-motorised transport (NMT) infrastructure improvements in the Cape Town CBD so that pedestrians can cross Buitengracht, one of the main arterial routes in the business district. The bridge forms part of the Fan Mile linking the Cape Town station with the Cape Town Stadium.
Waterkant Street is an important route from the station to schools, employment and retail opportunities in the Waterkant, and Sea Point and Green Point areas and pedestrians and cyclists use the crossing daily.
This pedestrian bridge offers safe passage for pedestrians to cross the extremely busy Buitengracht below. Those who opt to cross the road at ground level below, can use the pedestrian crossing.
Although the bridge is not universally accessible, a signalised crossing with a safe waiting area is provided at the street level to provide those with special needs, such as pedestrians in wheelchairs, a safe crossing.
Apart from being architecturally pleasing, the bridge:
creates a sense of place in Waterkant Street and St Andrew’s Square
forms part of the Fan Mile that connects the station with the Cape Town stadium in Green Point
is on the route of the Cape Town Marathon and during the event, temporary ramps are constructed
is used by tourists as a vantage point when walking between the city centre, the V&A Waterfront and Green Point.
It is important to note that this is a heritage sensitive site and a full heritage impact assessment was conducted at the time, which also informed the design.
Pedestrian bridge the lower end of Buitengracht:
This bridge was constructed as a part of the NMT infrastructure improvements in the Cape Town CBD to enable a safe pedestrian crossing at the lower end of Buitengracht at Walter Sisulu Avenue. This bridge provides safe access to the V&A Waterfront.
The inbound and outbound sections of Buitengracht at the location of the pedestrian bridge consists of four travel lanes in each direction. The inbound carriageway, in particular, provided no dedicated pedestrian cycle time, and pedestrians always had to negotiate vehicular traffic when crossing at ground level.
The provision of a dedicated NMT bridge therefore provides a significant advantage to pedestrians in terms of road safety and convenience. The bridge was constructed on the pedestrian desire line in order to encourage the use of this structure, and design features such as walls and landscaping are used to discourage pedestrians from crossing the inbound carriageway at ground level. Due to the constraints of the site, it was not possible to extend the bridge over the outbound carriageway as well, however, in this regard, vehicular traffic is brought to a complete standstill for 50% of the signal cycle time, allowing for the safe crossing of pedestrians at ground level.
The provision of a dedicated NMT bridge provides a significant advantage to pedestrians in terms of road safety and convenience. The City used design features such as walls and landscaping to discourage pedestrians to cross Lower Buitengracht at ground street level.
The pedestrian bridge includes an even gradient on both sides, a generous width to allow for cyclists and a smooth surface. The bridge has a glass screen along the western edge, which provides protection from harsh weather conditions, while also acting as a noise barrier for the adjacent hotel. The CCTV monitoring ensures safety while using the bridge.
Two elevators were installed to assist people with special needs but unfortunately, due to ongoing vandalism, the elevators are not functional.
‘This Transport Month we are focusing on non-motorised transport. Firstly, to show our residents what is available across the city and how these add to the safety and character of Cape Town. While the main purpose of the Buitengracht bridges is to connect people to the stadium during events, the bridge on the lower end of Buitengracht, in particular, also connects people to opportunities, be it jobs, recreational activities, or the V&A Waterfront, which is a major employer, retail area and an iconic tourists attraction. I must emphasise that the people benefitting from these bridges are from all over Cape Town. The bridges have a formal crossing and also assist with traffic flow, create a safe environment for pedestrians, and add to the overall experience of exploring Cape Town by foot,’ said the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Transport, Councillor Rob Quintas.
Source: City Of Cape Town
