Plans for Cape Town's Famous Unfinished Bridge
Trains
(note, after writing this it seems the train idea is not formally part of the feasibility. In fact some city officials say this is not possible, while some planners say it is.)
Finally, there are plans to do something with Cape Town's famous unfinished bridges.
Trains.
The City of Cape Town is undertaking a larger development feasibility study, which includes an alternative, constructing an elevated train line instead of completing the freeway.
Development has been held back for 40 years because the provincial government has kept a road reserve along Buitengracht Street for the unfinished Foreshore freeway. This was released in 2023
The proposed 6-km line will enable travel from Woodstock Station to Sea Point in under 10 minutes, including station stops, with an average train speed of 60-70 km/h.
Several design options can be considered based on the city's long-term transport goals:
1. Build a single track with the potential for expansion to a double track on one unfinished freeway
2. Construct a single track on both unfinished freeways (inward and outward)
3. Build the rail line on a single unfinished freeway and complete the other freeway for car use
Cape Town's famous Unfinished Bridge has a simple reason for being unfinished after all construction was halted in 1977.
Many theories came to life about why the freeway bridges were never finished.
The reality is much more boring. The official explanation is that the city ran out of money, and the traffic numbers did not justify continuing the project. Thus, it had to be abandoned.
Over the years, the structure has become somewhat of a tourist attraction and is also a popular location for movies and fashion shoots.