VISITORS to Cape Town should expect traffic delays this week as roads are closed for the rehearsal of the opening of Parliament, which takes place on Thursday evening. The ceremony usually takes place in the morning, but this year will be an evening event and traffic is expected to be more heavily congested as a result.

Traffic will be disrupted today (Monday) and tomorrow (Tuesday) for rehearsals and again on Thursday for the event. 

  Roads will be closed around the Parliamentary precinct in the CBD and along the route that President Jacob Zuma will be traveling along. Motorists are advised to avoid these roads between 16h30 and 22h00 and to use alternative routes, especially when going to the airport.

  Visitors to the V & A Waterfront, Artscape and City Hall will also be affected as both the M3/Eastern Boulevard and De Waal Drive will be closed until 19h00. Convention Square at the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC) will be closed for security reasons.

  Motorists are advised to use the following alternative routes into the CBD:

  *  M5, Black River Parkway, then onto the N1, Table Bay Boulevard.
*  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.
* Outer CBD Circle Road: Use the following ring route to the area of the CBD you want to access:

  •       Oswald Pirow Road
•       Table Bay Boulevard
•       Buitengracht
•       Buitensingel Street
•       Orange Street
•       Jutland Avenue
•       Upper Roeland Street / Brandweer Street
•       Tennant Street There will also be parking restrictions in the affected areas from midnight on Wednesday, February 10, to 22h00 on Thursday, February 11.  Alternative parking areas include the Grand Parade, Buitenkant Street and Darling Street.