Western Cape: Update on road closures and repairs
The Western Cape Government has released an update on road closures and repairs to road infrastructure in the Western Cape following the severe rainfall and subsequent flooding on the weekend of 22 – 25 September 2023. According to the Premier of the Western Cape, Alan Winde, immediately after the adverse weather system, 154 roads in the Western Cape had to be closed. This included sections of the N2 and N1, making relief and rescue work difficult. This number is now down to 37 roads. Steady progress is being made to reopen all affected roads including the following:
- Clarence Drive remains closed, but it is currently possible to travel from Gordon’s Bay to the “The Grille Shack” and back. On-site repair teams are working from both “The Grille Shack” and Rooi Els sides to restore those parts of the road that repair teams can reach. The Western Cape Government is confident that the section of Clarence Drive between the “The Grille Shack” and Kogel Bay Beach will be open by the end of November 2023. It is currently not clear when the entire length of Clarence Drive will be open to two-way traffic due to significant damage to the road between Kogel Bay Beach and Rooi Els. However, the DOI is focusing on reopening one lane of traffic along Clarence Drive, with traffic flow managed by stop/ go traffic controls as soon as it is safe to do so.
- The Hemel-en-Aarde Road remains closed between Caledon and Hermanus, but it is currently possible to travel between Caledon and Camphill. There is an alternative route between Camphill via Karwyderskraal to the R43 near Hermanus. The section from Camphill to the R43 remains closed for repairs. A geotechnical engineer has declared this section of the road unsafe. The DOI has deployed teams to start work on building temporary bypasses in unstable areas for single lane of traffic. Once the single-lane temporary bypasses are in place along this road, traffic will be managed through stop/ go traffic operations.
- Work is well under way to fully reopen the R43 and R44 intersection near Kleinmond. Single lane traffic is currently open at this intersection managed by stop / go operations. After initial assessments and further investigations, it has been determined that the repairs at this intersection are expected to be completed by the end of January 2024.
- Franschhoek Pass remains closed due to landslides. Teams are working to reopen one lane of traffic by the end of November 2023. Once a single lane has been reopened, traffic will be managed through stop/ go traffic operations. However, it is unlikely that heavy motor vehicles will be allowed to use this pass when it is opened to single-lane traffic.
The South African National Roads Agency (SANRAL) has started work on repairing the section of the N2 in the vicinity of Botrivier which was washed away, and they report that they are hoping to reopen the road by the end of November 2023.
