The City of Cape Town’s Urban Mobility Directorate will, in coming days, commence with the construction of a new pedestrian bridge in the vicinity of Watergate Estate, Lentegeur. The new bridge will provide a safe railway crossing to pedestrians; as well as access to the new MyCiTi station that will be located along AZ Berman Drive.

The pedestrian bridge will be constructed south of the R300 and west of AZ Berman Drive in Lentegeur, Mitchells Plain. The closest formal streets are Moses Kottler Crescent and Portulaca Street, Watergate Estate.

This location is currently used as an informal railway crossing.

‘Hundreds of pedestrians are using this point as a shortcut to get to and from the areas on the other side of the railway tracks. It is extremely dangerous to do so and this is why we are building a pedestrian bridge that will be universally accessible, with good overhead lighting and CCTV cameras to improve the general safety in the area,’ said the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Urban Mobility, Councillor Rob Quintas.

Last year the City consulted widely with the local community about the design and location of the pedestrian bridge. Some changes were made after residents raised concerns about crime. As such, the design was amended to ensure the open bays underneath the bridge on the west alongside the railway line are enclosed.

‘In future, once the MyCiTi service is operating in these parts of Mitchells Plain, the Lentegeur pedestrian bridge will also facilitate access to the Sesame MyCiTi station that will be located about 400m away along AZ Berman Drive, opposite the Watergate Mall and Mitchells Plain Hospital. Thus, apart from providing a safe railway crossing for pedestrians, this bridge fits into our plans for expanding the MyCiTi service to the metro-south east,’ said Councillor Quintas.

The contractor will be on site soon, and the work will be visible by next month.

‘Local jobseekers and subcontractors will benefit from this project as the contractor is obliged to provide temporary work opportunities to local residents. There are also opportunities for local subcontractors that must be contracted to provide goods and services related to the project.

‘The City’s investment in transport infrastructure in Mitchells Plain will benefit communities in multiple ways – from improved safety and public transport, to access to opportunities for skills development and business enterprises. We are excited about this project and I am sure residents are too,’ said Councillor Quintas.

Facts about the Lentegeur pedestrian bridge:

• It will provide a safe and universally accessible pathway for pedestrians to cross the railway tracks at this location
• the bridge will be constructed with robust materials that are vandal-resistant and difficult to remove such as reinforced concrete balustrades
• the bridge will be located in the vicinity of existing informal footpaths, where there is pedestrian movement
• concrete walls, parallel to the railway track on either side of the rail line, will be installed by Prasa to ensure pedestrians use the overhead bridge
• the stairways and footpaths leading to the bridge will be well-lit to improve visibility at night
• CCTV cameras will be installed to monitor the area and improve safety, these will be linked to the Transport Management Control Centre

The City is hosting public information days and all are welcome to attend:

• Wednesday, 12 October 2022, from 14:00 to 19:00 – Northwood Community Hall, 25 Hans Aschenborn Street, New Woodlands 
• Thursday, 13 October 2022, from 14:00 to 19:00 – Lobelia Community Hall on the corner of Kreupelhout Lane and Lobelia Street

‘The local community will benefit immensely from the pedestrian bridge. It will provide them with a safe and convenient pathway to cross the railway line, and given that it will be universally accessible, people in wheelchairs will be able to use it, the frail, and cyclists,’ said Councillor Quintas.

If all goes as planned, the construction should be completed within 12 months.