Cape Town Mayor Geordie Hill-Lewis presented a plan to transform unfinished highways in the Foreshore district into a new complex, including a bridge link, a tunnel, a waterfront, and a mixed-use residential area.
The proposal to complete the unfinished expressways in Foreshore has triggered political criticism regarding funding, costs, and housing plans, while proponents of transport infrastructure view it as an opportunity for future generations.
The Foreshore Precinct project envisions the creation of a new bridge connection, an underground tunnel, parks, a harbor promenade, affordable housing, and a new quarter covering approximately 15 hectares around the unfinished highways. Mayor Geordie Hill-Lewis noted that the project could ultimately cost 'many billions of rand,' although an exact figure has not yet been disclosed.
Congestion Problem
Cape Town mayoral candidate and General Secretary Brett Herron called the project financially unrealistic. He stated that engineers and financial specialists have always considered it impossible to fund the completion of the Foreshore expressways or an alternative solution for the city center of this scale.
Herron accused Hill-Lewis of presenting a 'fantasy disguised as a plan,' stating: 'There is no plan. Only a glossy brochure.' He also pointed to significant engineering risks associated with tunneling under reclaimed land, including soil instability and groundwater. Citing international infrastructure projects, such as major tunnel construction in Boston, Herron emphasized that while it is technically feasible, the probability of its financing is low, and the risk of cost overruns is very high.
Funding and Engineering Risks Under Scrutiny
The City stated that the proposal is at the conceptual stage, and funding agreements will be developed as planning progresses. City representative Lutando Tikhali-bongo reported: 'The funding question will be resolved as the project develops from vision to reality. This project is still in the conceptual stage and will take several years to implement.'
Tikhali-bongo added that the City is exploring innovative financing models to ensure the project's sustainability. Another unresolved issue is access to port-controlled land. The City indicated that Transnet National Port Authority is a key stakeholder, and discussions are ongoing. Furthermore, the City did not specify how many affordable homes would be built, only mentioning that affordable housing would be part of the second phase of the proposed project, without setting a target.
City Claims Funding and Port Access Remain Unresolved
Herron insisted that any use of public land must include a substantial portion of affordable housing. The City has not yet provided information on the fate of homeless people living in parts of this area.
Gareth Ramsey, founder and lead engineer of the Capetrain Express project, welcomed the proposal as a 'next-generation investment' in the lower central business district. He noted that the development could support transit-oriented development, improve mobility, and create better connections across Cape Town. He also responded positively to the possibility of preserving space for a future railway line.
According to the proposal, the existing highway will be expanded and connected to Helen Suzman Boulevard by a new bridge over Buitenghart Road. A later phase will include an outgoing tunnel near Duncan Road, which will connect to the N1 and N2 routes. Subsequently, the existing elevated outgoing highway will be dismantled, making way for parks, development, and a waterfront. Public participation is expected as planning evolves. If approved, construction could begin before the end of the next council term and continue for more than 15 years.