Information on roadworks during the festive season

Media Release by Western Cape Minister of Infrastructure Tertuis Simmers

Road projects are often long-term projects. They can take months or years to complete due to the nature of the project. The traditional end-of-year contraction recess, commonly known as “builders’ break”, allows teams to take a much-deserved break between 15 December 2023 and 15 January 2024. During this period, roadworks will be limited to emergencies such as clearing a roadway where a tree has fallen and other such emergencies.

Road users are reminded that travel times may be affected on roads where construction activities have taken place and will resume after the construction recess later in January. Please note that some routes are completely closed, we kindly ask residents to find alternative routes. However, most routes will remain open albeit in a limited capacity. In total 34 roads will be open to the public either with or without traffic accommodation (such as a stop-and-go) and five roads will be closed.

Roads open but with traffic accommodation

The following routes will be accessible but there will be traffic accommodation in place which may range from lane closures to width restrictions to stop-and-go points. It is advisable that road users should factor in additional travel time when using these routes:

Cape Winelands Region

• Contract C0749.03: Emergency damage repairs to MR191 (also known as the R45 Franschhoek Pass).
• Contract C1102.01: The upgrade of MR201 (R301) between the N1 (Paarl) and OP5255 (also known as Kliprug Road).

West Coast Region:

• Contract C0802.05: The rehabilitation of Main Road 533 between St Helena Bay (km13.19) and Stompneus Bay (km23.08).
• Contract C1308: Repairs to Uitkyk Pass.

Overberg Region:

• Contract C0838.06: Reseal and rehabilitation of MR269 (Hemel-en-Aarde R320 between Caledon en Hermanus) and upgrading of drainage culvert on DR1257 near Tesselaarsdal.
• Contract C1000: R43 Upgrade of TR28/2 between Hermanus (km6.2) and Stanford (km24) and Gansbaai (km43.88) and MR4017 (km0 to km4.2).
• Contract C1271.04: Roadworks on DR1300, DR1285 and MR279 (Villiersdorp – Grabow R321), DR1347, OP5662, OP5669, OP5671 (Palmiet River / Vyeboom).
• Contract C1271.05: DR1288, TR30/01or R433 between Villiers and the N2, OP4068 and OP4053.

• Contract C1270.04: Flood damage repair to TR02701 (R44 Clarence Drive).

Garden Route Region:

• Contract C0851: Upgrading of Divisional Road 1609 Rondevlei.
• Contract C0964.02: Upgrade of TR33/1 better known as Louis Fourie Road at Beach Boulevard West (km9.9) to Garret Street (km13.15).
• Contract C1047.04: The widening of Bridge no.2221 over the Maalgate River at km15.1 on TR2/9.

Central Karoo Region:

• Contract C1008: The rehabilitation of Divisional Road 1688 between Calitzdorp Spa turnoff (km15.64) and Oudtshoorn (km43.31).

Cape Metro Region:

• Contract C1025.01: Upgrade of Refinery Interchange on Trunk Road 11/1 (km4.1) (commonly known as the N7).

Roads closed (local access only)

The following routes are completely closed, and road users are advised to plan alternative routes:

Central Karoo Region:

• Contract C1008: The rehabilitation of Divisional Road 1688 between Calitzdorp Spa turnoff (km15.64) and Oudtshoorn (km43.31): Road is completely closed from km36.5 to km43.31.

Overberg Region:

• Contract C1011: Upgrading of Main Road 28 between km0.0 and km10.2 along Theewaterskloof Dam (commonly known as Draaiberg Road).
• Contract C1271.03: DR1254 and DR1271 (Karwyderskraal – Hemel-en-Aarde).
• Contract C1271.04: DR1300, DR1285 and MR279 MR279 (Villiersdorp – Grabow R321)DR1347, OP5669, OP5671 (Palmiet River / Vyeboom) – MR279 is closed, and the detour is via Vyeboom.
• Contract C1271.05: DR1288, TR30/01, OP 4068 and OP4053 – DR1288 Van der Stel Pass Road near Botrivier is closed.

Roads open without traffic accommodation

On the following routes, road users will be traveling through constructions sites, but the roads are open without traffic accommodation. There may be reduced speed limits but no stop-and-go points. Road users are advised to factor in additional travel time:

Cape Winelands Region:

• Contract C1049.03: Upgrade and Rehabilitation of DR1098 – Protea and Waarburgh Road.
• Contract C1102.02: Upgrade of DR1413 from km6.59 to km7.94 near Wellington.
• Contract C1116.01: Reseal Wolseley Ceres Touwsriver.
• Contact C1141: Periodic maintenance of TR03103, MR00295, MR00294, DR1356 and OP06046 – Montagu.
• Contract C1143: Periodic maintenance of TR31/3, TR32/1, TR65/1, DR1352, DR1354, OP6074, OP6072 and OP6069 – Barrydale, Suurbraak, Swellendam.
• Contract C1147: The periodic maintenance of MR552, NR546 and DR2220 near Lutzville.
• Contract C1156.01: Proposed bridge no. 6136 along OP05622 at km1.57 over the Wildeperdejag River.
• C1158.02: Bridge B0495 De Doorns.

West Coast Region:

• Contract C0967: The planning, design and implementation for the completion of the R45 corridor between the N7 and R46 at Malmesbury.
• Contract C1230: Periodic maintenance of TR21/2, MR559 and OP7643 – Saldanha Bay area.

Overberg Region:

• Contract C1088.01: Periodic Maintenance of Main Road 267 Stanford to N2/Riviersonderend (km0.34 to km50.58).
• Contract C1119: Replacement of structures on DR1218, DR1218 and OP4032.
• Contract C1271.02: Botrivier/Villiersdorp/Grabouw.

Garden Route Region:

• Contract C1125: Periodic maintenance of TR83/2, TR83/5 and MR365 between Riversdale and Ladismith.
• Contract C1146: Periodic maintenance of MR00351, MR00355, DR01615, DR01600 and DR01627 – Knysna.
• Contract C1154: Periodic maintenance of TR03302 – Hartenbos to Oudtshoorn.
• Contract C1214: Reseal MR331 Still Bay to Jongensfontein.

Central Karoo Region:

• Contract 1213: The strengthening of TR16/8 and periodic maintenance of TR19/9 between the Northern Cape border and Murraysburg.

Cape Metro Region:

• Contract C0914: Upgrade of MR168 (Baden Powell Drive) between Lynedoch (km5.88) and MR177 (km10.62).
• Contract C1025.10: Periodic Maintenance of Trunk Road 11/1 (N7).

In acknowledging the high volumes of traffic experienced during this period and coincides with roadworks the provincial Minister of Infrastructure, Tertuis Simmers, said, “Our teams continue to maintain and improve the quality standards of our road network. We therefore urge all road users to use them in a responsible manner and adhere to the road rules and signs. A great deal of work has gone into ensuring that many of the scenic and economical routes are open for traffic ahead of this period. I therefore wish to thank every individual who contributed to this success.”