The City of Cape Town has started a phased upgrade of the M3 in Newlands, with construction expected to affect traffic along the busy route into January 2027.
The City’s Urban Mobility Directorate said work officially began on Tuesday, with the contractor starting site establishment ahead of the first phase of construction.
The initial work will involve widening the road shoulder and footway on the outbound section of the M3 between Upper Sidmouth Avenue and Struben Road.
The City expects this phase to be completed by January 18, 2027, provided there are no unforeseen delays.
Construction will generally take place from 07:00 to 17:00 from Monday to Saturday, subject to weather conditions.
Newlands and Rhodes Avenue intersection works
The project will also include improvements at the Newlands Avenue and Rhodes Avenue intersection.
Work at the intersection is scheduled to begin on November 16, 2026, and continue until January 21, 2027.
Motorists approaching the intersection should expect a partial lane drop beginning about 80 metres before the intersection while construction is under way.
To reduce disruption to traffic, construction at the intersection will be limited to between 10:00 and 15:00 on working days.
There will be a break in construction during the year-end builders’ holiday period.
Upgrade targets M3 congestion
The road project follows public participation processes conducted in 2022 and 2023.
According to the City, the broader upgrade is intended to tackle congestion bottlenecks on the M3 between Upper Hillwood Road and Newlands Avenue.
The route is an important connection for motorists travelling between suburbs in the Southern Peninsula and the Cape Town City Bowl, and the City expects the planned changes to improve traffic flow through the area.
Mayoral Committee Member for Urban Mobility Councillor Rob Quintas thanked residents who participated in the consultation process, saying their contributions assisted the City’s transport specialists in developing plans for one of Cape Town’s key congestion points.
Quintas said residents would receive information about individual phases before work begins, while further updates would be issued as construction progresses.
Motorists travelling through Newlands have been advised to plan for possible delays and allow additional travel time, particularly during construction hours.
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