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Conclusion

High Level Road began as a vague intention over 100 years ago to construct a local amenity, and

this later became part of an ambitious idea for a much larger Cape Peninsula amenity. The idea
became a reality 70 years ago and was given status 53 years ago with its proclamation as a Scenic

Drive. Subsequently, the amenity role was overtaken by the traffic by-pass and development
promotion roles.

The approved split-level freeway proposal reflects a form of mega-scale thinking about
automobile transportation and land development that was popular in the 1960s – 70s. It is now

widely regarded as inappropriate and has been superseded by a more intelligent and
environmentally sensitive approach that emphasises public transportation and the balanced

development of the transport network as a whole.

Since 1930, apart from one or two very short extensions to local roads, the only other local road

to have been constructed was Quarterdeck Road in 1939. Essentially, therefore, the local and
trunk transport network in this area has remained unchanged for over 70 years – virtually beyond

living memory.

References

SA Archives, Cape Town: Source 3 / CT various volumes coded as High Level Road

Muizenberg, and as Boyes Drive; Volume 1 / SMT 10 / 39 (Simon’s Town).

Donaldson, K. (ed.) South African Who’s Who 1913 & 1916. An Illustrated Biographical Sketch
Book of South Africans, Ken. Donaldson, Cape Town.

Cape Town Magisterial District – District Record Book. (Each magisterial district has such a

book which contains biographical details of all past magistrates of the District).

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