Expect road closures for the Slave Route Challenge in Cape Town

Approximately 8 000 people are expected to take part in the 21km half marathon, a 10km walk or run and a 5km fun run during the thirteenth edition of the Slave Route Challenge will take place this Sunday, June 1. 

The City would like to advise motorists of road closures and the impact on traffic. 

The Slave Route Challenge follows a course steeped in Cape Town’s layered past, retracing the paths once walked by slaves and honouring the city’s heritage.

Each race takes the runners on a unique course through sites that honour the resilience and legacy of the slaves who helped build Cape Town.

Starting on Darling Street, in front of the iconic City Hall, 10km participants go through District Six, Gardens, Bo-Kaap and back into the city centre for a finish on the Grand Parade. Runners on the half marathon take on a similar route through District Six, Gardens, Bo-Kaap with an extra leg into Green Point before crossing the finish line on the Grand Parade.

The half marathon runners set off at 7am with the 10km races following at 7.30am and the 5km at 7.40am.

Historic landmarks runners pass through include District Six; Company’s Garden; Bo-Kaap; Green Point Urban Park; Fort Wynyard; the Whipping Post (corner of Buitenkant and Darling streets); Gallows Hill (Somerset Road, Green Point); the Slave Tree Plaque (Spin Street); and the Castle of Good Hope.

The race will affect several roads in the Cape Town CBD and the surrounding area. The following roads will be closed from 4am to 11:30am on Sunday, June 1:

• Darling Street between Plein and Buitenkant streets (Full Closure)
• Lower Buitenkant Street between Strand and Darling streets
• Sir Lowry Road (westbound) between Tennant and Buitenkant streets
• Hanover Street between Tennant Street and Sir Lowry Road
• Hanover Street between Christiaan and Tennant streets
• Hatfield Street between Roeland and Orange streets 

There will be lane closures, restrictions and deviations on the following roads:

• Roeland Street between McKenzie and St John’s streets
• Orange Street between Government Avenue and Hof Street
• Wale Street (both directions between Adderley and Buitengracht streets
• Long Street (right lane) between Wale and Bloem streets
• Loop Streets (right lane) between Bloem and Wale streets
• Somerset Road between Ebenezer and Chiappini streets
• Beach Road between Granger Bay Boulevard and the Hotel School
• Granger Bay Boulevard between Fritz Sonnenberg and Beach Road
• Prestwich Street between Chiappini and Ebenezer Streets
• Riebeek Street between Adderley and Waterkant Streets 
• Adderley Street between Riebeek and Wale Streets.

The race will also impact several MyCiTi routes on Sunday:

• Route 101, 103 and 111

The section of Darling Street between Buitenkant and Plein streets will be closed from the start of services until 11:30am.

Routes 101, 103, and 111 will be diverted onto Strand Street and Castle Street. During the road closure period, the following stops will be affected:

• Adderley – 101 (Southbound direction), 103 (both directions), and 111 (northbound direction)
• Lower Plein - (both directions)
• Lower Buitenkant Street - (both directions)
• Government Avenue – 111 (eastbound only)

• Route 102

Darling Street, between Buitenkant Street and Plein Street, will be closed from the start of services until 11.30am.

Route 102 will be diverted onto Strand Street and Russell Street. The following stops will be affected:

• Darling – both directions
• The Castle - both directions
• Hanover Street - both directions
• CPUT - both directions
• District Six – Civic Centre direction

• Route 109 and 118

Somerset Road, between Ebenezer Road and Chiappini Street, will be closed (lane closure) from the start of services until 11am.

In this section of the road, route 109 and 118 buses will miss the Alfred stop (eastbound direction).

For more information on the Slave Route Challenge and other events in Cape Town, visit: www.eventsincapetown.com

• Darling Street between Plein and Buitenkant streets (Full Closure)
• Lower Buitenkant Street between Strand and Darling streets
• Sir Lowry Road (westbound) between Tennant and Buitenkant streets
• Hanover Street between Tennant Street and Sir Lowry Road
• Hanover Street between Christiaan and Tennant streets
• Hatfield Street between Roeland and Orange streets

There will be lane closures, restrictions and deviations on the following roads:

• Roeland Street between McKenzie and St John’s streets
• Orange Street between Government Avenue and Hof Street
• Wale Street (both directions between Adderley and Buitengracht streets
• Long Street (right lane) between Wale and Bloem streets
• Loop Streets (right lane) between Bloem and Wale streets
• Somerset Road between Ebenezer and Chiappini streets
• Beach Road between Granger Bay Boulevard and the Hotel School
• Granger Bay Boulevard between Fritz Sonnenberg and Beach Road
• Prestwich Street between Chiappini and Ebenezer Streets
• Riebeek Street between Adderley and Waterkant Streets 
• Adderley Street between Riebeek and Wale Streets.

The race will also impact several MyCiTi routes on Sunday:

• Route 101, 103 and 111

The section of Darling Street between Buitenkant and Plein streets will be closed from the start of services until 11:30am.

Routes 101, 103, and 111 will be diverted onto Strand Street and Castle Street. During the road closure period, the following stops will be affected:

• Adderley – 101 (Southbound direction), 103 (both directions), and 111 (northbound direction)
• Lower Plein - (both directions)
• Lower Buitenkant Street - (both directions)
• Government Avenue – 111 (eastbound only)

Route 102

Darling Street, between Buitenkant Street and Plein Street, will be closed from the start of services until 11.30am.

Route 102 will be diverted onto Strand Street and Russell Street. The following stops will be affected:

• Darling – both directions
• The Castle - both directions
• Hanover Street - both directions
• CPUT - both directions
• District Six – Civic Centre direction

• Route 109 and 118

Somerset Road, between Ebenezer Road and Chiappini Street, will be closed (lane closure) from the start of services until 11am.

In this section of the road, route 109 and 118 buses will miss the Alfred stop (eastbound direction).

For more information on the Slave Route Challenge and other events in Cape Town, visit: www.eventsincapetown.com