The City of Cape Town has informed residents that there will be increased congestion in the CBD in the upcoming days due to the arrival of cruise liners in the Cape Town harbour.

Motorists can expect high traffic volumes on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, primarily when the Queen Mary 2 and Queen Victoria cruise liners are docking and boarding “royal” passengers. Efforts are being made to prevent traffic jams on Nelson Mandela Boulevard, FW De Klerk Boulevard, and Buitengracht Street. City officials have, however, encouraged motorists to plan alternative routes around the Waterfront area during peak times.

Early arrival is advised for passengers of the royal cruise lines, who should use the Christiaan Barnaard and Marine Drive entrances to the docks instead of the general Waterfront access routes.

The arrival and departure times for the cruise liners are as follows:

• Queen Victoria: Arrival at 07:00 on Thursday, 11 April, and departure at 17:30 on Friday, 12 April.
• Queen Mary 2: Arrival at 05:30 on Friday, 12 April, and departure at 18:00 on Saturday, 13 April.

Note that these times may change due to weather conditions.

The City’s Traffic Signal Operators say it will closely monitor conditions on key roads and use CCTV cameras to manage traffic flow efficiently. Variable message signs will also be utilized to alert motorists about congestion areas.

“While traffic congestion is a headache at the best of times, it is important to keep in mind that events such as these are a sign of economic prosperity that ultimately enhance quality of life for all our residents.”