Could Cape Town’s 50-year Foreshore stalemate finally unlock a new property precinct?

Cape Town’s unfinished Foreshore highways could finally be transformed, with Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis unveiling plans for a new 15ha neighbourhood on one of the city’s last major pockets of undeveloped CBD land.

By Katja Hamilton

5 Oct 2026

Source: Gareth Ramsay/Capetrain Express. Artist's impression. Gareth Ramsay, a mechanical engineer and founder and lead engineer of Capetrain Express, has developed a proposal for an express-rail network aimed at reshaping mobility across Cape Town.

If the Foreshore Precinct Project passes the City’s public-participation and approval processes, construction is expected to take much of the next decade, replacing decades-old infrastructure with a mixed-use precinct featuring affordable housing, a large new public park, walkable streets and a tree-lined promenade along the harbour edge.

Hill-Lewis announced last week that the City is proposing to deliver the project in two phases, allowing the existing freeways to remain operational while the new infrastructure is constructed and limiting disruption to traffic.

Central to Phase 1 would be two additional inbound lanes on the freeways, together with a new link bridge connecting the inbound freeway directly to Helen Suzman Boulevard.

The new bridge would cross Buitengracht Street, allowing motorists travelling from the Foreshore towards Green Point, Sea Point and beyond to bypass the CBD.

Phase 1 would also include a new elevated outbound ramp connecting Buitengracht over Dock Road to the existing outbound freeway.

In Phase 2, the existing outbound elevated freeway would be demolished and replaced by an underground tunnel. The tunnel is planned to be constructed on vacant land between the Port and Customs House before continuing alongside Duncan Road, where it would link with the N1 and N2 freeways.

Streets, parks, homes

To build the section of tunnel south of Duncan Road, the City is engaging with Transnet over land owned by the Port Authority.

FW de Klerk Boulevard would also be transformed into a pedestrian-oriented street.

A new canal would link Buitengracht Park to the V&A Canal, while a new public park would be created beneath the Buitengracht link bridge.

Bus lanes would be introduced across Buitengracht Street, while three land parcels would be unlocked for a new residential area.

Foreshore rail potential

This larger phase of construction is expected to run until 2040. In his public statement, Hill-Lewis said the Foreshore Precinct Project had “been planned in such a way that there is sufficient space for a future railway line”.

Capetrain Express founder and lead project engineer Gareth Ramsay said the provision was significant for future rail infrastructure.

Capetrain Express proposes an alternative use for Cape Town’s unfinished Foreshore freeways, with an elevated rail line envisaged along the existing freeway corridor instead of completing it as a conventional road. Its original proposal envisaged an approximately 6km elevated line between Woodstock and Sea Point, integrated with the existing Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (Prasa) network.

The concept has since evolved into a much broader proposed Capetrain Express network for the greater Cape Town metropolitan area, designed to complement and integrate with the existing rail network. The broader proposal envisages an express-rail network connecting the CBD and Foreshore with the Atlantic Seaboard, Southern and Northern Suburbs, Cape Flats, Cape Town International Airport and the wider metropolitan area and Winelands.

“This is a positive indication that provision has been made for future rail infrastructure within the precinct,” Ramsay said of Hill-Lewis' announcement.

A costly proposition

Ramsay also welcomed what he described as the Mayor’s in-principle support for Capetrain Express as a potential addition to Cape Town’s public-transport network, subject to the project demonstrating its financial viability.

The distinction is significant, as the Capetrain Express rail corridor is not part of the City’s confirmed Foreshore Precinct Project at this stage.

Hill-Lewis addressed the proposed Cape Town Skytrain in April 2026, telling the Cape Chamber of Commerce and Industry that he was aware of the proposal but that it would require significant government funding to proceed.

“I’m aware of the Cape Skytrain, but there’s no prospect of that project proceeding without significant government funding. I would love that project to proceed, but it is above our pay grade to fund a project like that,” he said.

“Capetrain Express supports the redevelopment of the Foreshore Precinct and stands ready to work with the City and relevant stakeholders to contribute to its long-term success,” Ramsay said.

The City of Cape Town’s Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) Strategic Framework, adopted as City policy in 2016, provides a policy framework for transit-oriented development. Capetrain Express says the framework provides a policy basis consistent with the type of transit-oriented development it is proposing for the Foreshore Precinct.

Additionally, Capetrain Express points to the City of Cape Town’s 2050 Long-Term Plan (2025), which sets a target for more than 75% of all commuter trips to be made by public transport by 2050.

The company says the high-capacity rail corridor it is proposing for the Foreshore Precinct is aligned with the City’s stated policy objectives and represents a realistic proposal to advance the City’s long-term public transport vision.

“We share the City’s ambition to create a world-class Foreshore Precinct that benefits all Capetonians, strengthens Cape Town’s global competitiveness and builds lasting prosperity for generations to come,” Ramsay said.

Your city, your say

Hill-Lewis said the announcement of the Foreshore Precinct Project marked the beginning of its public-facing phase, with the City of Cape Town set to announce further public-participation processes and engagement opportunities as they become available in the coming months.

These will include road-scheme amendments, heritage-impact assessments and other statutory requirements.

City Manager Lungelo Mbandazayo said a dedicated online hub had been created where the public could access detailed proposals, drawings and announcements. The final designs will subsequently be developed into detailed engineering designs ahead of procurement and, ultimately, construction.

“We will update the information as we go along, and inform you of the engagement and public-participation opportunities,” he said.

He encouraged Capetonians to register and participate in the process.

“This is your city and we want you to be involved,” he said.

Ramsay said the company also looked forward to participating in the consultation process.

“We look forward to meaningful engagement during the public-consultation process and to explore how a financially viable, high-capacity rail corridor could complement the precinct’s plans and expand access to jobs and opportunity,” he said.