The opening of Parliament road closures

Dodge traffic like politicians dodge accountability

Thursday 9 February sees the opening of Parliament in Cape Town at 19:00. The halls of power come to life with the hustle and bustle of running a country. The Mother City hosts the National Assembly and the National Council of Provinces for six months of the year. Other highlights include the ever anticipated and highly sugarcoated State of The Nation Address.

This year promises to be action-packed with more than twenty bills in consideration for 2012. The infamous Protection of Information Bill, which is currently before an ad-hoc committe, is said to be the first priority and its deadline has been set for April so as to be ready for the NCOP process. Until then hold your breath.

Along with a drastic increase in luxury German vehicles and gas guzzling blue light convoys, locals may bump into their favourite (or not so favourite) MPs in coffee shops and restaurants in the area.

There will be several road closures on Thursday the 9th February so plan ahead and dodge the traffic jams.

Road Closures

Parts of Klipper Road, Princess Anne Avenue, Newlands Avenue and Dean Street would be closed for 35 minutes from 17:45, as well as the M3 and Eastern Boulevard towards the city, the N2 between the M4 and the city and Woolsack Drive westbound.

Anzio Road in Observatory would also be closed during this time.

From 16:00 to 20:00, the Strand Street off-ramp on Eastern Boulevard would be closed as well as Hertzog Boulevard inbound and parts of Adderley Street, Heerengracht, Wale Street, Parliament Street, Commercial Street, Spin Street and Plein Street.

The Company Gardens would also be closed at 16:00, three hours before President Jacob Zuma starts delivering his State of the Nation address in the National Assembly.

Streets surrounding the legislature, including Plein Street and Roeland Street, would be partially closed for up to 11 hours on Thursday. 

Alternative routes

Road users are advised to use the following alternative routes into the CBD during the event:

1. M5, Black River Parkway, then onto the N1, Table Bay Boulevard.

2. M4, Main Road, onto Victoria Road up to the Good Hope Centre. Thereafter left 
onto Tennant Road or right onto Oswald Pirow Road to circle the outer CBD.

3. Outer CBD Circle Road – use the following ring routes to the CBD to access:

Oswald Pirow Road

Table Bay Boulevard

Buitengracht

Buitensingel Street

Orange Street

Jutland Avenue

Upper Roeland Street / Brandweer Street

Tennant Street

Traffic control

Traffic Officers will assist on all roads around the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC), including Coen Steytler. Convention Square will be closed for security reasons during this time.

Parking restrictions

There will be parking restrictions in the following areas from midnight on Wednesday 8 February 2010 to 22:00 on Thursday 9 February 2010. Alternative parking options include the Grand Parade, Buitenkant Street and Darling Street.

Princess Anne Avenue, Newlands

Church Square, corner of Spin and Parliament Street

Roeland Street: between Plein and Buitenkant Street

Plein Street: between Roeland and Spin Street

Spin Street: between Parliament and Plein Street

Parliament Street: between Longmarket and Bureau Street

Hatfield and St John's Streets: between Roeland and Orange Street

Adderley Street: between Wale Street and Hertzog Boulevard

St Mary's Cathedral Parking Area: between Bouquet and Roeland Street Gallery Lane

Queen Victoria

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