Chapman’s Peak Drive is a historic scenic driveway between Hout Bay and Noordhoek in the Cape Peninsula. Following closure in 2000 following a number of accidents and subsequent safety concerns, OvP provided professional landscape architectural services for the road upgrade, roadway rockfall canopies, protection and rehabilitation measures, viewing areas and boardwalks, including architectural services for the ablution areas, and road tolling facilities.
Completed in 1922, Chapman’s Peak Drive provided a shortened route between the South Peninsula and Cape Town CBD and construction involved cutting into the side of the geologically unstable sides of the steep cliffs and mountain ravines.
Following a number of accidents and safety concerns Chapman’s Peak Drive was officially closed to traffic indefinitely by the Provincial Minister of Transport in January 2000.
For the rehabilitation and upgrading of Chapman’s Peak, due to the sensitive location within the Table Mountain National Park, an integrated environmental approach, was required. Extensive and complex engineering work was undertaken to ensure that rock fall protection and edge safety barriers were installed, along with an advanced traffic management system.
After intensive design and reconstruction Chapman’s Peak Drive was re-opened to traffic as a toll road, including the controversial building facilities cleverly concealed in a road cutting on the lower slopes, on 20 December 2003. The opening was a welcome return for the drive as an “international tourist destination” complementing other tourist destinations in the Western Cape. Local businesses also welcomed the re-opening.
The design and implementation of the tolling facilities and associated timber boardwalk were part of the integrated environmental design approach and OvP provided full architectural services including design concept, documentation and site supervision.
After completion the boardwalk was completely destroyed by bush-fire, and was re-built under OvP supervision to the original specification with minor improvements.
Adapted from source: chapmanspeakdrive.co.za