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these popular places by the sea; we would urge landed proprietors to give this matter their
earnest attention and take steps to commence the formation of this road without delay, as every
week the task becomes more difficult, owing to building lots being sold on the slopes of the
mountain. We believe that the Public Works Department has a report and a rough plan of this
road, made by the late Chief Inspector, Mr Grier; let this be obtained and then prisoners be
placed there first to cut a bridle path and then gradually a carriage road. The improvement and
additional attraction to Kalk Bay - Muizenberg effected by such a road will be astounding to
many. We trust the parties mostly interested will not rest until the first sod has been turned and
the high-level road [ ] in course of formation.

So the early motivation was to increase the attractions of this area and it was to be carried out
using cheap prison labour. The idea was given formal status in the Kalk Bay Municipal

Improvement Act No. 27 of 1897 in the statement: “…… with a view to laying out all available
lands … the necessary roads should have most careful attention, especially a high level road

along the slopes of the mountain from Muizenberg to Kalk Bay.” In 1898 the Municipality took

an important policy decision: when disposing of municipal land along the general alignment of
the contemplated road a clause was to be included to the effect that should the land be required

later for municipal purposes it could be resumed by Council, at any time within a period of seven
years after such sale, at a price pro rata that paid by the purchaser. (Wynberg Times, 31/7/1898.)

Four years later there is a further reference to the HLR (Wynberg Times 26/7/1902):

Councillor Wood asked that a flying survey of the proposed High-level Road be made at once.
He had been agitating for this for over a year.
The Engineer said it would be very difficult in many places to make a road, especially in the
gorge at St James'. Viaducts would certainly be required.
Councillor Wood said his object was not to construct the road at present, but to have it defined,
so that property owners might know when to allow for it in their subdivisions. It was necessary
that the road should be defined by flags, or send a gang of men along with picks to mark it.
After Councillor Powell remarking that owners of land on the Mountain-side had everything to
gain and nothing to lose by having the road made, the Engineer was instructed to define a line
from Kalk Bay to Muizenberg at the nominal height of present high-level road at Kalk Bay and
the Public School at Muizenberg.

The precise alignment of the high-level road remains unclear. However, in 1902 a certain Mr
Gates, a well-known resident of Muizenberg was reported to be building a fine house on the High

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