Cape Town residents and visitors can finally expect repairs to a key section of Kloof Road to begin by March 2026, the City of Cape Town’s Urban Mobility Directorate has confirmed.
The section between Kloof Nek Road and Round House Road has been closed since a devastating Level-9 storm in September 2023 destabilised the embankment.
This made the section of Kloof Road unsafe for carrying loads, prompting a road closure that has been enforced for over two years.
Heavy rainfall in 2024 caused further damage, prolonging the closure of this vital access route linking the City Bowl to Atlantic Seaboard suburbs such as Camps Bay, Clifton, Bantry Bay and Sea Point.
Up to now, vehicles have had to go the long way round via Camps Bay Drive/ Victoria Road.
How long will Kloof Road’s repairs take?
Before any construction can begin, the City will spend the first two months of 2026 securing necessary permits and environmental approvals.
This is in line with regulations for Table Mountain National Park – where the road sits – given the environmental sensitivity of the area.
Approvals under the National Environmental Management Act and a Water Use Licence meanwhile have already been granted.
“Kloof Road is an important access route and we are well aware of the inconvenience and frustration as a result of this closure,” said Rob Quintas, the City’s Mayco member for Urban Mobility.
“We are eager for the project to start, and I can confirm that if all goes as planned, the contractor will be on site by March 2026 at the latest.”
The repair project is then expected to last around 11 months.
A tricky operation
Due to the complex terrain, steep slopes, large trees, and existing infrastructure such as fibre optic and water mains, work will focus solely on stabilising the damaged section.
The City of Cape Town also noted that there will be no additions to the section, such as walking or cycling lanes.
“Access to the site is going to be a huge challenge, given that the construction work will have to happen from the bottom of the kloof upward towards the road and there is no access road to the bottom,” the City added.
“Given the environmental sensitivity of the area, access cannot just be built with heavy machinery, and getting the required machinery and materials to the bottom is going to pose many logistical challenges.”
