Durban will indeed be increasingly busy over the COP17 period, however eThekwini Transport Authority deputy head: Road System Management (RMS) Carlos Esteves and Metro Police are confident that the plans in place will avoid any unnecessary traffic delays or problems.

“The city centre and the area immediately around the ICC precinct will be completely closed to traffic from 8 November to 12 December, but other than that it’s ‘business as usual’”, Esteves says.

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 ICC. No other roads will be closed for event as a whole. Localised traffic management may require temporary closures from time to time during the period, but Metro Traffic will manage the movement of traffic, as required.

All formal businesses will have appropriate access should any formal closure be required and will be notified in advance.

Transport Options

The influx of visitors into the City has precipitated the implementation of a number of transport arrangements in order for people to move easily and comfortably around Durban during the conference period.

Shuttles:

From the Airport – An Airport Shuttle will be in operation from 17 November-14 December and is open to anybody 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. Specially marked COP17 bus-stops will be clearly identifiable along all routes. In addition, eight Durban hotels will be selling tickets and will be available from the Concierge. COP17 delegates will be able to travel on all the shuttle buses for free, by showing their delegate accreditation on embarking.

Other Transport Options:

Bikes – Two bike routes have been specially created for the Conference period, to encourage locals and visitors alike to explore the City in a more environmentally-friendly way. New designated bike lanes have also been increased for those delegates who wish to ride to the ICC precinct.

The first starts at the Beachfront and follows a route through town to the CCR Expo & then on to the Durban Botanic 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.

Bike hire is available from a site near uShaka Marine World in the New Addington node, the Green Hub and the Pavilion site on the Central Beachfront, adjacent to the Durban Tourism information office.

Costs to hire are: R50 per hour, R300 per day and R1000 per week. Longer rentals are also available. A credit card is essential for hiring and a R500 deposit is required for every hire.

PARKING

Accredited Delegates & Media - No vehicles will be allowed into the ICC precinct for the entire period. Accredited delegate and Consular parking is at the ‘Park ‘n Ride’ at the Durban Drive-in site. Dedicated shuttles will transport visitors to the ICC and CCR Expo. Accredited Media will be accommodated at the Moses Mabhida Stadium parking, in Battery Beach Road, opposite the Kingspark Swimming pool (Mustering Fields parking), from where they can catch the ‘People Mover’ shuttle to the Workshop. In addition, they can make use of a shuttle to the Central Transport Hub (CTH). Travel on the People Mover is free for accredited delegates on presentation of a delegate card.

General Public – The General Public have access to parking at the various parking garages in the city and open parking along the Beachfront. From there, a short walk or use of the People Mover will get them to the CCR Expo site.