Page 91 - Bulletin 13 2009

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streets – with a probable 60 ft. implied for the False Bay Main Road. In addition, he
foresaw considerable development along the False Bay coast at Muizenberg, St. James

and Kalk Bay, and the construction of a High Level Road between Muizenberg and
Kalk Bay (later Boyes Drive). (SASCE, 1916: 111-112). All of these would come to

pass.

It is apparent from the municipal records that improvements to Main Road took place in

three phases separated by a number of years: 1914 – 15, 1918 – 19, and 1928 - 29.

Phase One commenced towards the end of 1914 with construction taking place from the
Muizenberg goods shed to St. James and making use of railway land. The SAR&H

permitted the Council to construct retaining walls on their property, the necessary

culverts and a continuous footpath were built, and telephone poles, electric lights and
other obstructing elements were set back. A new fence was put in. (MM, 1915, App. 2).

(Figs. 2.39 – 2.41).

Phase Two followed during 1918 – 1919 and comprised the raising of the kerb and

gutter in St. James and Kalk Bay, and laying a kerb and gutter and cement footway in
St. James. (MM 1919, App. 2). (Figs. 2.42 – 2.44). The photographs of the finished

route illustrate clearly how it differed from its predecessor. By this time the speed limit

along Main Road had been raised to 15 miles per hour.

Phase Three focused on the difficult section from Seahurst Hotel through Kalk Bay and
beyond to The Trappies, and down to the City Council boundary at the Silvermine River

bridge. There were seven years of negotiations from 1921 to 1928, between the Council
and the Railways Administration, and between the Railways Administration and local

residents, before construction finally got underway in 1929. While negotiations were

dragging on engineering investigations and design of the various elements were
undoubtedly proceeding regardless, because road improvements were imperative.