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- The roadworks project at the Refinery interchange on Plattekloof Road and the N7 will be completed in just over two months.
- The project started in September 2021 and is expected to be completed in February 2024.
- The Refinery interchange project is worth R271 million.
The roadworks project at the Refinery interchange on Plattekloof Road and the N7 will be completed in just over two months. At least this is according to the update from the Western Cape Department of Infrastructure dated 30 October. “The project, which started in September 2021, is expected to be completed in February 2024,” the department’s website says.
The question as to how long the project will still be ongoing was raised again last week on social media by a frustrated motorist.
Insane
“Does anybody know when the freaking construction of Plattekloof Road bridge will be completed? I heard January 2024, but it looks longer.
“This traffic is now getting insane, 40 minutes in the morning to get out of Burgundy Estate due to the Neanderthals blocking the left lane onto the N7, to push in to go over the bridge,” Diane Stansfield wrote on Tuesday 7 November.
Her post sparked a major reaction, with a total of 62 people commenting on it.
“We had to deal with no robots, since before covid, and now this construction,” one person wrote.
Another wrote: “It takes me 50 minutes to make a trip that should take four minutes.”
One person commented saying that it is a massive project, and that the completion date is indeed February 2024. “They seem to be on schedule. Selfish drivers are causing a lot of the frustration in the mornings and the failure of the traffic department to have someone on point duty adds to that frustration.”
No complaints
The City of Cape Town’s traffic services was approached for comment.
“We have no record of complaints via the City’s official channels about moving violations along the route.
“There is daily congestion due to the roadworks since the construction commenced. Milnerton Traffic Operations conduct daily patrols along the Plattekloof Road bridge and the off-ramps from the N7. This section of Plattekloot Road bridge forms part of our N7 high visibility patrols and officers assist if required with traffic congestion,” says Maxine Bezuidenhout, spokesperson.
She says the contractor is currently pushing forward to have additional lanes open before 15 December.
“Any traffic violations can be reported to the City’s Public Emergency Communication Centre by calling 021 480 7700 from a cellphone,” Bezuidenhout adds.
Miquette Temlett, Ward 5 Councillor, confirmed the N7/Plattekloof Road Refinery interchange roadworks is a Western Cape provincial project. “So, it is not something that Subcouncil 3 will deal with. As far as I know the project is supposed to be completed in February 2024,” Temlett says.
The newspaper attempted to get comment from the Department of Infrastructure, but is still waiting on feedback. The constructor, Haw & Inglis (H&I), have asked that questions regarding the project be directed to the department.
Update
In its last statement, dated 25 May 2023, the department wrote that the Refinery interchange project is worth R271 million.
The project involves the construction of two bridges over the N7, with one dedicated to westbound traffic on Plattekloof Road and the second for eastbound traffic. Other improvements include the widening of all four ramps, intersection improvements as well as widening of the Road-over-Rail bridge and raising of the existing Plattekloof Road.
