CT International closes additional airport access road

CAPE Town International Airport (CIA) will close all short cuts to the airport to improve security. In a statement, Airports Company South Africa - Acsa says this means that Michigan Road which connects CIA with the neighbouring industrial area will be closed from the end of this month (May 2002). All access will be restricted to the main entrance of the airport. "The closure of Michigan Road should not be a surprise to the users of the road," says Monwabisi Kalawe, CIA general manager. "We announced the closure in July last year, but deferred the implementation to conduct a series of information sharing meetings with the neighbouring industrial area," says Kalawe. The 350 metre Michigan Road runs partially across airport land. It was opened in 1997 as an interim route to the airport to alleviate congestion during the construction of the main access road from the N2 highway. It was always part of the original plan to close the road on completion of the main access road. "Michigan Road served as a convenient short cut for airport users, but unfortunately it also became a quick escape route for criminals active at the airport," added Kalawe. During December 2000, an armed robbery took place in the International terminal. Another followed during February 2001 in the Domestic terminal. Apparently in both cases the culprits used Michigan Road as escape route. (Miguel de Sousa)