U2 fans urged to make use of public transport tonight

Thinking of driving in to town and parking in Greenpoint somewhere for the U2 concert? Bad idea. Cape Town is set to be on lockdown tonight. Major roads are being closed and parking will be extremely limited.

Road Closures:

The road closures in and around Cape Town on February the 18th are as follows (thanks to Cape Town Travel Blog for the info):

• Portswood Road and Beach Road (between Haul Road and Portswood Road) – closed from 16h00 until 02h30
• Beach Road (between Fritz Sonnenberg Road and Haul Road) – local access only
• Vehicles exiting the V&A Waterfront towards Mouille Point can only access Beach Road via Haul Road
• The Fritz Sonnenberg Road access to McDonald’s – closed from 06h00 and 02h30 the following morning
• From 16h30, there will be no general access to Hertzog Boulevard between Civic Avenue and Heerengracht, on Hans Strijdom or along Adderley Street (between Strand Street and Hertzog Boulevard)
• Western Boulevard – closed between the Buitengracht Street and Beach Road intersection at Three Anchor Bay in both directions from 16h00
• Sea Point-bound carriageway of Somerset Road – closed between Buitengracht and De Smit streets from 16h00
• The CBD-bound carriageway of Main Road (between De Smit Street and Glengariff Road) will also be closed and two-way traffic is to be accommodated on the Sea Point-bound carriageway of Main Road (between De Smit Street and Glengariff Road ) – local access only
• Signal Hill Road – closed between 14h00 and midnight

Public Transport

It has been recommended that all fans attending the concert take one of the following public transport systems to Cape Town Stadium or to the Fanwalk (from the City of Cape Town website):

Parking at the following Park-and-Rides at or near rail stations, is free of charge. The stations will have extended operating hours and additional security until 30 minutes after the last train has left the station:

• Athlone – east of the station
• Brackenfell – either side of the station with access from both Old Paarl Road and Brackenfell Boulevard
• Claremont – off Palmyra Road, east of the station
• Kuils River – either side of the station with access off New Nooiensfontein Drive or from Van Riebeek Road off Station Road
• Mitchells Plain – at the station off Hazeldene Avenue
• Ottery – either side of the station but primarily on the eastern side, off Panton Road
• Retreat – west of the station with access off Main Road
• Strand – at the station or across the road at the municipal offices

A nominal parking fee will be payable at the following Park-and-Rides:

• Oostersee – at the station (free parking) off Mike Pienaar Boulevard in Oostersee Street and on the Settlers High school fields
• Goodwood – at GrandWest with access to the rail station via the Casino
• Century City – at Ratanga Junction with a free shuttle service to the station
• Fish Hoek – at the station (free parking), with additional parking at the eastern end of the beach parking area

The bus shuttle Park-and-Rides will also be operational, namely:

• Kronendal Primary School at the sports field off Andrews Road in Hout Bay (nominal parking fee)
• On-street at Maiden’s Cove or in the municipal parking area off Victoria Road in Camps Bay
• University of Cape Town (UCT) Upper Campus in Rondebosch

The first buses will be ready to depart from the University of Cape Town and Hout Bay at 14:00, depending on passenger demand. The last bus before the concert leaves at 21:00 and no service will be provided during the concert. The last return shuttles will depart at 01:00 and run from Main Road (opposite York Road) to Hout Bay and from the Civic Centre bus station to UCT.

The Stadium shuttle between the Civic Centre and Stadium bus stations will be free of charge on presentation of a valid concert ticket. This service starts at 14:00 and the last bus will depart from the Stadium at 01:00.

Access to the rail services and the event shuttles is free on presentation of a valid concert ticket.