Thursday, 3 May 2012

Heavy rain, late trains cause chaos

The right lane at the Koeberg Interchange was flooded causing huge traffic congestion. Photo: Thomas Holder

Heavy rain, accidents and late trains caused chaos on Cape Town’s roads on Thursday morning.

Frustrated motorists and commuters took to Twitter to complain about traffic delays and late trains due to the rain and cable theft in Philippi.

Merle Lourens, spokeswoman for the City of Cape Town’s traffic services, said traffic delays on the N1 were due to flooding of the road near the Koeberg Interchange coming into the city.

“There was also a minor accident on the N1 incoming involving two vehicles, but there were no injuries and the road has been cleared.”

A serious accident on the N2 outbound near the airport exit was also reported.

One student, Marisha Eygelaar, tweeted that she was going to be late for class after it took her 90 minutes to get from Durbanville to Canal Walk.

Another user, @anib, who was on the N1, tweeted: “So the N1 is completely backed up. Turn around and go home.”

Lourens said Chapman’s Peak had also been closed because of the rain as rocks sometimes fall from the mountain. Traffic had been diverted via the M3 and Constantia route.

In Hout Bay in Harbour Road, there were delays as a result of a fire at one of the fish factories, she said.

Metrorail spokeswoman Riana Scott said the cable theft at Philippi station this morning had caused defective signals between Kasselsvlei and Bellvile stations.

She said a Malmesbury train had also broken down at Stikland station.

“As a result, trains on the northern and central service areas were delayed, some for more than 90 minutes.”

She said technicians were expected to finish repairs on Thursday afternoon.

- IOL

No comments:

Post a Comment