Important message from the Noordhoek Ratepayers Association (NRPA) relating to Noordhoek traffic
Dear community
Traffic issues are very much top of mind in Noordhoek as the number of vehicles on our roads is increasing year over year: speeding, loud vehicles, near misses at dangerous crossings, parking, horses on public roads, wildlife being run over … all evoke strong reactions.
Many residents are suggesting solutions and/or asking what the Noordhoek Ratepayers Association (NRPA) is doing about it. Well, this post is to explain what we have and still intend to do, what is and isn’t possible (according to authorities), as well as what you can do to help.
Before going into the solutions (as we see them) it is important to realise a couple of things:
1. CoCT does not feel the same level of urgency on these traffic issues as residents do. While we feel that we have a big traffic problem, their sentiment is that it isn’t urgent when considered in relation to issues in other areas of the city
2. CoCT capacity (and budget) for addressing our problems is very limited. They say that other areas merit spend and attention more than Noordhoek
3. Noordhoek Main Road was recently handed over by WC province to CoCT. It is currently a class 3 “regional road”, which limits what is possible/allowed in terms of traffic calming
4. The current speed limit on Main Road (from the Chapman’s Peak Drive boom to the mall) and Silvermine Road is 70km/h. The 40km/h signs that were previously visible just before the Common were either illegally placed there by residents in the past, or reflect the speed on Chapman’s Peak Drive (which is 40km/h except for the stretch along the cliffs where it is 20km/h)
5. The current speed limit on all other roads is 60 km/h unless there is an official sign indicating otherwise
Having said that, here is the list of topics/solutions that NRPA have been discussing with CoCT in the past 3 years. Our main points of contact have been: the mayor, Mayco member Rob Quintas, ward councillors Patricia Francke, Simon Liell-Cock and Felicity Purchase, CoCT Roads and Infrastructure Management Gregg Faulman and Shafiek Salie, CoCT Senior traffic engineer South Region Tim de Villiers, and CoCT Head Active Mobility (Non Motorised Traffic) Dirk du Preez:
• Reducing speeds on Main Road from the Chapman’s Peak Drive boom to the Silvermine turnoff to 50 km/h. The idea behind this is that there are multiple reasons why the current 70 km/h is too high: the poor visibility at the Jakes intersection, cars and foot traffic around the Common and the pedestrian/equestrian crossing at the farm village (which is confusing and dangerous). The reduction of speed on any section of road, but especially on a regional road, has to follow a procedure, starting off with a formal measurement of current speeds. Tim de Villiers has agreed to issue a tender for this work, but it will take some months before we see the outcome and being able to formally request a change in maximum speed. In the meantime CoCT have installed a temporary speed monitoring system at the Common to gather data on vehicle speeds. The fact that the Common is a public park will help in motivating why speeds should be limited. It will also bring logic to traffic flow (Chapman’s Peak Drive: 40 km/h, Main Road Chapman’s Peak Drive to Silvermine Road: 50 km/h, Main Road from Silvermine Road to Mall: 60km/h)
• Adjustment of the pedestrian crossing at the Farm Village. Tim de Villiers has indicated he favours a solution where the crossing is brought further towards the Silvermine turn off and is integrated with bus embayments and traffic lights like at the Garden Emporium. Moving the crossing away from the intersection will reduce the current confusion. CoCT would be funding this if approved. Tim categorically ruled out a traffic circle, 4 way stop, speed bumps and/or rumble strips on Main Road around this crossing, even though there are precedents of other provincial/municipal roads that have them. NRPA believes that it is pointless to debate with him on this and has therefore adopted a stance to rather work with the constraints that he is setting
• Reducing speeds on Main Road from the Silvermine turnoff to the Checkers mall, and on Silvermine Road from the OuKaapse Weg turnoff until Main Road from 70 km/h to 60 km/h (bringing it in line with other arterial roads in the valley like Kommetjie Road). This request is being dealt with together with the request mentioned above under the first point. CoCT has installed temporary speed monitoring equipment at the Emporium and the Noordhaven entrance to gather data on vehicle speeds
• The introduction of turning lanes for the Lake Michelle South and North entrances (like recently installed at the Caravan Park entrance). Tim has not given any indication on these ideas, despite recent accidents at the emporium intersection and deaths along Main Road. Residents of Lake Michelle have signed a petition asking for these turning lanes, which NRPA supports, provided that the final road design takes into consideration the pedestrian pavement that Evergreen is going to build between the Lake Michelle entrances, the length of the four toad underpasses that Evergreen will install under Main Road and the width of the Non Motorised Traffic lane that NRPA is requesting (see below)
• Installing 3 community funded speed feedback signs (showing speeds and if too fast) in front of the Common, along Main Road and Silvermine Road. NRPA has asked for permission to erect these signs. When and if we get permission we will reach out to residents to help fund them, since CoCT has indicated they do not have the budget to install them. These will be additional to the 2 speed feedback signs that were recently installed outside the Lake Michelle entrances. These were installed by CoCT and funded by Evergreen as part of the conditions of approval for the Lake Michelle expansion.
• Converting 3 residential areas in Noordhoek to become “Woonerven” under the National Traffic Act (Chapman’s Peak, Crofter’s Valley, San Michel/Noordhaven). This would limit speeds in those areas to 40 km/h and give right of way to all non-motorised traffic (pedestrians, horse riders, cyclists etc). Resident polls indicated strong (80%) support for this concept and NRPA has now formally submitted requests to implement a Woonerf in the Chapman’s Peak area as a pilot. CoCT informally has reacted positively to the request and we are awaiting their formal reply. If approved, the signs and 10m raised sections at the Woonerf entrances along Avondrust Circle will have to be funded by the community. NRPA will be reaching out to the community in due course.
• Non motorised (pedestrian, cyclist) infrastructure along Main Road from Chapman’s Peak Drive to the Checkers Mall. This was discussed when the Mayor visited Noordhoek in 2022, but nothing has moved on this topic so far, despite a road fatality involving a bicycle. The current main reason for road fatalities in Noordhoek lies in the differences in speed between users of the same road. Vulnerable users (pedestrians, cyclists) must use physically separated lanes, even if that means narrowing Main Road to do so. A similar project is being implemented between Kommetjie and Ocean View and serves as an example for us. NRPA is in the meantime in discussion with CoCT to create a pedestrian footpath along a section of Main Road at the dangerous Silvermine Road intersection – where a recent pedestrian was hurt by a passing vehicle
NRPA has also engaged with WC Province on the dangers of Chapman’s Peak Drive (CPD) and OuKaapse Weg:
• Multiple cyclist accidents and fatalities have highlighted the risks that large buses pose to CPD road users. NRPA has called on Province to make changes to the road and entrances to the picnic areas, as well as better enforcement of the road rules. We believe that Province should also consider limiting the size of buses, or restrict the times that big buses can use CPD
• The number of accidents on Ou Kaapse Weg is increasing. This is related to the increase of traffic on this important connection to the M3, as well as a number of basic design flaws. NRPA has taken the initiative to write a letter to WC Province, signed by all civic associations in the Far South, asking Province to address these safety and capacity issues. Ultimately a tunnel will have to be created between the M3 and Kommetjie Road, but until that time we believe Province should add an uphill lane to Ou Kaapse Weg and make the road safer
Finally, NRPA has realised that getting support from CoCT/Province for changes relies heavily on data (accidents, near misses, vehicle speeds, traffic intensity). We are pleased to see that CoCT has installed monitoring equipment at our request. NRPA also started recording accidents and near misses in our own database since 2023, after we noticed that official data is incomplete.
We realise that it may appear for things to move (too) slowly, but these are large organisations that are not easy to influence and we are not their priority. We are, however, trying to move the needle as best we can.
The good news is that you can get involved if this is something that you are passionate about, because all the ideas mentioned above need residents to get involved: dig into the by-laws and traffic regulations, community outreach, put proposals together, raise funds. Especially the “woonerven” will need community support for CoCT to consider it seriously, as well as community funding to make it happen.
If you know of people that are willing and able to contribute their time in a sensible way then please reach out to the NRPA via email: chairman@nrpa.org.za and civic@nrpa.org.za