Construction started on Cape Town's R130-million transport management centre on Friday, the city said.

Mayoral Committee member for transport, roads and stormwater Elizabeth Thompson turned the first sod in Goodwood.

The centre would manage traffic on the city's freeways and arterial road network during the 2010 Soccer World Cup and beyond.

"When complete, this building will provide the city of Cape Town and its partners with a world class traffic management facility and system," Thompson said in a statement.

From inside the building roads would be monitored and accidents and traffic problems detected via real time video and surveillance cameras.

"For far too long there have been talks of better management of public transport and commuter traffic on our roads."

The centre would put Cape Town on par with international best practice in transport and traffic management.

Sapa