Items filtered by date: March 2015

Chapman's  Peak Drive has re-opened after the fires that ravaged Cape Town's southern peninsula in the first week of March 2015.  

The Drive is open with conditions.   Please read the Statement on the opening of Chapman's Peak Drive by Donald Grant, Minister of Transport and Public Works here.

A decision was taken on the 11 March 2015 to restrict access due to the volatile conditions for potential rock falls after the devastating fires.  NO cyclists, runners or pedestrians will be allowed between the Look-Out Point & the Noordhoek Gate due to to the risk of rock falls.

Flagmen will be stationed along points to control the users. "We appeal to all to adhere to these conditions for their own safety"

Driving over Chappies after the fire, is a mixture of emotions. The smell of smoke and fire is still strong, you can taste smoke in the back of your throat and you do those little irritating coughs, because you throat is scratchy and uncomfortable.  Soot and ash clings to your toes but it is the visual devastation at the wasteland on the slopes and the charred remains that wrenches the heart. Despite the sadness to see the barren desert-like landscape on Chapman’s Peak Drive, we know that it is not a disaster for the fynbos.

Fire is great for the fynbos! It won’t be long before the slopes of Chappies are more beautiful than ever!  Fire is essential for fynbos. Many fynbos species are dependant on fire for pro-creation. Without fire, fynbos as we know it, would become extinct. The ash also brings essential minerals back to the soil. Only for a short while after a fire the landscape looks black and bleak. The first fire-lilies surface in the first weeks after a fire, followed by countless other bulbs, resprouting shrubs and seedlings. In spring, the land is fully covered with vegetation and the plants start to compete for space. Controlled fires are essential for fynbos rehabilitation.

See article on fynbos and fire HERE

Chapman’s Peak Drive Toll Plaza Office Hours:

The Toll Plaza is open Monday – Friday from 08h00 - 16h30 for registration as a Frequent User.
Address: Toll Plaza, Chapman’s Peak Drive, Hout Bay, Cape Town
Plaza Tel: 021 791 8220

• Read More about Chapman’s Peak Drive Frequent Users here.
• See Tariffs and discounts for all classes here
• As in life….Terms and Conditions apply!

#Chappies is OPEN following the March 2015 Cape Fire.

Please read the statement issued by Donald Grant, Minister of Transport & Public Works issued on 9 March 2015.  See original Statement HERE. 

Chapman’s Peak Drive to Open after Fire Damage Assessment | Western Cape Government

This morning (9 March 2015), I visited Chapman’s Peak Drive to receive a report from the concessionaire, Entilini, of assessments done following severe damage caused by the fires that ravaged the Southern Cape last week. The drive had been closed as a result of the fire that has been raging in the vicinity of Noordhoek, and the upper reaches above Chapman’s Peak.

The drive suffered three main impacts as a result of the fire: 

• Extensive loss of vegetation which acts as the slopes’ natural soil stabilisation mechanism in terms of rockfall and debris attenuation.
• Consequent release of previously trapped and accumulated rock debris within the vegetation, rendering them potentially mobile during episodes of strong winds and/or rainfall.
• Fracturing of both rock blocks on the slopes and on the rock face as a result of the intense heat, creating rejuvenated sources of potential rock falls.

These are extraordinary conditions that now warrant the concessionaire to adopt a very cautious approach to the management of the drive going forward, warranting regular assessments and possible closures in the interests of safety for all those that make use of the drive, e.g. motorists, pedestrians, cyclists, tourist groups, etc. Such decisions will be taken on assessment of the weather conditions that may incite further rock falls.

The drive has been opened from 14:00 today (9 March 2015) to traffic. The concessionaire will be taking necessary precautions to ensure safety on the drive, and for it to be re-opened to normal traffic whenever possible.

Chapman’s Peak Drive Toll Plaza Office Hours:

The Toll Plaza is open Monday – Friday from 08h00 - 16h30 for registration as a Frequent User.
Address: Toll Plaza, Chapman’s Peak Drive, Hout Bay, Cape Town
Plaza Tel: 021 791 8220

• Read More about Chapman’s Peak Drive Frequent Users here.
• See Tariffs and discounts for all classes here
• As in life….Terms and Conditions apply!

The much loved Cape Town Cycle Tour will have a new route and a shortened route on the 8 March 2015, due to the massive wildfire that has ravaged the southern peninsula of Cape Town since 1 March.  David Bellairs, director of the Cape Town Cycle Tour Trust released the following statement regarding the cycle tour.

CLICK HERE TO VIEW NEW ROUTE MAP 

CAPE TOWN CYCLE TOUR ANNOUNCES THE 38TH YEAR AS THE “SHOW YOU CARE SOLIDARITY RIDE”

(Cape Town, 4 March 2015) It’s been an extremely worrying and tense week for Cape Town.  For the last four days our beautiful Southern Peninsula, that the iconic Cape Town Cycle Tour traditionally passes through, has been on fire. It’s been devastating.

Fire fighters have worked day and night battling the flames in sweltering heat as experienced pilots fly choppers to drop buckets of water on the flames.  Emergency teams, paramedics, health officials and disaster experts have gone the extra mile, saving lives and preventing homes from burning down.

It’s been very heartening to see how the public has responded to the crisis. They have rushed to bring necessities – eye drops, ice, drinks, food for the fire fighters. They have also pledged donations to buy much-needed resources. They have given much more than money – they have opened their hearts and given their humanity. Cape Town is a city of Good Samaritans – a city of heroes.

And we, at the Cycle Tour, are humbled by the overwhelming outpouring of good. We see that outpouring of good every single year at the Cycle Tour.  The Cape Town Cycle Tour is a celebration of good times for the 35 000 people who participate in the event. We also know that so many people working tirelessly behind the scenes to make those good times possible.

This week we’ve seen people from all walks of life responding to the fires and we know that people of this great province don’t only come together for good times but also come together when there is a crisis and we share the concerns of the local community and join in rallying behind these brave fire fighters.

For the Cycle Tour to be able to safely cater for the 35000 anticipated participants, we need to start placing infrastructure on the ground by tomorrow morning.  For this to happen, a decision on the route needs to be made today.  The decision we have made is unanimous and has not been taken lightly.  It has involved extensive discussion and collaboration by all stakeholders including the Provincial Government of the Western Cape, Entilini and their consulting engineers in respect of Chapman’s Peak Drive, City of Cape town Events Office, City of Cape Town Disaster Management Services, Provincial Emergency Medical Services and Cape Town Traffic in respect of Ou Kaapse Weg, MyCiti, Mediclinic and our Presenting Rights sponsors.

Having carefully assessed all available information, it has become clear that the safety of cyclists cannot be guaranteed on Chapman’s Peak Drive and this rules out using this famous landmark for the 2015 event. This is largely as a result of the extensive fire which has destroyed vegetation responsible for retaining the mountainside above Chapman’s Peak.  Furthermore, the heat has caused rocks to expand making them unstable and in some instances rock falls have occurred.

With Chapman’s Peak Drive ruled out, our detour option of Ou Kaapse Weg returning to Cape Town via the M3 was considered.  A number of key issues needed to be taken into account including access and egress to the South Peninsula by Emergency Services vehicles and local residents who are still under threat of fires raging in the area.  The soot and ash covering both sides of the road on Ou Kaapse Weg present a considerable health risk to participants and this would be exacerbated by the likelihood of wind.

The idea of an out and back route via Main Road to Cape Point and back is impractical for an event of this size as road widths in certain areas between Fish Hoek and Muizenberg narrow down to a width of four metres.

We understand that many visitors have travelled from far afield to participate in this iconic international bucket list cycling event.  We are also keenly aware of the need to reduce the impact the event will have on traffic and other emergency services that are desperately needed elsewhere in the South Peninsula.

With this in mind, we have taken a bold decision and will be staging a vastly shortened version of our beloved Cape Town Cycle Tour in solidarity and support for those affected by the tragic fires burning on the mountains around Cape Town. The route will be a 47 km circular route from its normal start at the Civic Centre to the end of the M3 and back the same way to a slightly altered finish in Green Point.

The unfortunate set of circumstances we face this week is unprecedented in 38 years of the Cape Town Cycle Tour.  On Sunday cyclists won’t see pristine scenery as they make their way down the shortened route. They should see the smouldering landscape as a source of inspiration and pride because it represents the heroism of the men and women who have – very literally – put their bodies in the line of fire.

The ride remains a celebration of Cape Town and this wonderful Peninsula on the southern tip of Africa. The Cape Town Cycle Tour will go on because, as the fighting spirit of the people of Cape Town has demonstrated, nothing can take it away from us – not even fire.

This statement was issued by the Cycle Tour Media Office on 4 March 2015.

Chapman’s Peak Drive wishes all riders a safe ride on Sunday.

Chapman’s Peak Drive Toll Plaza Office Hours:

The Toll Plaza is open Monday – Friday from 08h00 - 16h30 for registration as a Frequent User.
Address: Toll Plaza, Chapman’s Peak Drive, Hout Bay, Cape Town
Plaza Tel: 021 791 8220

• Read More about Chapman’s Peak Drive Frequent Users here.
• See Tariffs and discounts for all classes here
• As in life….Terms and Conditions apply!

Chapman's Peak Drive will remain closed until further notice following the devastating Cape Fires that are ravaging the Cape Peninsula. 

Once the fires have been completely extinguised, an assessor will be sent in to check the drive for safety.  Parts of the catchment fencing was in flames and with a large section of vegetation that has been burnt, there is a strong likelihood of rock instability.

Until the assessment has been completed, we are unable to give any indication of when the drive will be re-opened.  We ARE aware of the Cape Town Cycle Tour which is scheduled for Sunday 8 March 2015 and we are in communication with the organisers. As mentioned previously, we are unable to give a time frame for re-opening the drive, until all safety precautions have been met. 

Let's all hope for a speedy end to this blaze.