N2 bus and taxi lane to become operational

By Tarryn Le Chat
09 October 2006

The dedicated bus and taxi lane on the N2 in Cape Town, which has never been properly functional, will become operational in May next year.

There are plans to extend this public transport lane, which disappears before reaching the city, by widening the N2 into three lanes at hospital bend.

According to the Cape Times, the move is likely to be welcomed by the public transport commuters, who will move more quickly through the dedicated bus and taxi lane.

However, it will mean even further delays for private motorists on the N2 highway as it will effectively close off a lane they have used freely for the past 10 years.

The City of Cape Town confirmed that it planned to re-launch the bus and taxi lane on the N2 in May 2007.

According to the report, when the bus and taxi lane opened in 1995, there was a short period when it worked fairly well, but this soon tapered off as private motorists sitting in traffic moved at a snails pace.

Hein Stander of BKS, the firm of consulting engineers appointed by the city to design and build the bus and taxi lane, said the city had asked that the road be extended eastwards to Borcherds Quarry.