EThekwini Transport authorities say they are confident that there will be no unnecessary traffic delays or problems during the upcoming UN Climate Change Conference (COP 17). The port city of Durban will host the Climate Change talks from 28 November to 12 December 2011.
Roads Systems Manager at the eThekwini Transport Authority, Carlos Esteves, says they expect more than 20 000 people for the conference. “Roads that will be closed for the entire period are: Walnut Rd – Bram Fischer to AB Xuma and one lane on Bram Fischer, Stalwart Simelane and AB Xuma around the International Convention Centre (ICC). The city centre and the area immediately around the ICC precinct will also be completely closed to traffic from November 8 to December 12, but other than that it’s business as usual,” says Esteves. An airport shuttle will be in operation from November 17 to December 14 and is open to non-delegates at R130 per single journey. It will stop at Gateway, Umhlanga and the Beachfront en route to its final destination at the Central Transport Hub at the centrum site in the city centre,” says Esteves. Specially marked COP 17 bus stops will be identifiable along all routes. In addition, eight Durban hotels will be selling tickets and will be available from the concierge. COP 17 delegates will be able to travel on all the shuttle buses for free by showing their delegate accreditation on embarking. The first route starts at the Beachfront and follows a route through town to the Climate Change Response Expo then on to the Durban Botanical Gardens. The other route runs from uShaka Marine World on the northern book-end of the Durban Beachfront, along the Golden Mile, to the Durban Green Hub at Blue Lagoon.
Below is a map of the roads that will be closed during the COP17.