Cape Town’s unfinished Foreshore Freeway Bridge could finally be heading towards completion after standing incomplete for almost 50 years.
The structure, often called the “bridge to nowhere”, has become one of the city’s most recognisable landmarks. It has also become a daily reminder of a major transport project that was never finished.
According to The South African, Cape Town Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis said the City is making progress on plans to complete the bridge. He made the comments during an interview on Kfm Mornings.
Designs Expected Later This Year
Hill-Lewis said the City is preparing to release its first proposed designs for public comment in September 2026.
“In September, we’re going to release some of our first designs for public comment,” he said.
This means residents, commuters and other stakeholders are expected to get a chance to weigh in before the project moves to its next stage.
The public participation process will be key, especially because the bridge sits in one of Cape Town’s busiest and most visible urban spaces.
Funding Still a Major Challenge
While the plan appears to be moving forward, funding remains a big hurdle.
Hill-Lewis said the City still needs to find the money to complete the work, adding that it would be a “very expensive operation”.
That means construction is not guaranteed yet. The designs may be the next step, but the City will still need to secure the required funding before the long-stalled project can fully restart.
Why the Bridge Matters
The mayor said completing the bridge is not only about fixing an old landmark.
He said the intersection where the elevated freeway enters the city is the busiest in Cape Town and needs a long-term traffic solution.
He added that the area “does need an intervention”.
The completed bridge is expected to help traffic flow into and out of the city centre and ease congestion around the Foreshore precinct.
A Project Stuck Since 1977
Construction on the Foreshore Freeway Bridge began in the early 1970s as part of a plan to improve access to Cape Town’s CBD.
However, work stopped in 1977 after funding ran out, leaving the elevated freeway unfinished above the Foreshore.
Now, nearly five decades later, Cape Town may finally be closer to turning the city’s famous unfinished bridge into a working route.
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