Western Cape: Clarence Drive reopening for one-way traffic!

The Western Cape Government yesterday (11 December 2023) announced that the Clarence Drive, a key tourist route connecting Gordon’s Bay with the coastal towns of Rooi Els, Betty’s Bay, and Pringle Bay, has been reopened. Repairs to the road have progressed to the point that one-way traffic can be accommodated. Clarence Drive was closed after it sustained significant damage following the severe rainfall and subsequent flooding that hit the Western Cape on the weekend of 22 – 25 September 2023. However, several restrictions remain in place for reasons of public safety. Based on construction requirements, there is a high likelihood of extended closures which will either be for set times during the day or for several days at a time. According to the Western Cape Government, closures during the peak festive season are unlikely.

“There are 6 stop-and-go points on Clarence Drive and one at Palmiet Bridge, bringing it to a total of 7 stop-and-go points between Gordon’s Bay and Kleinmond which will add to your travel time. I urge road users to factor in additional travel time when using this route. I further ask road users to be patient and to be courteous towards pointsmen and -women. While the additional travel time may be frustrating, our teams are diligently working to ensure smooth traffic flow and safety on these vital routes.” said provincial Minister of Infrastructure Tertius Simmers.

Current indications are that repairs to this route will cost approximately R80 million. This cost includes repairs to the Palmiet Bridge, which also sustained significant damage.

Western Cape: Update on road closures and repairs following the adverse weather conditions in September 2023!

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.

Western Cape: Update on road closures and repairs following the recent adverse weather conditions! [update]

update (18 October 2023): The bridge to McGregor in the Western Cape has been reopened

The Western Cape Government has released an update on road closures and repairs 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, the damage is widespread and extensive. The current estimate of the total cost of the damage to provincial roads has been put at R500 million. Most of the damage caused by flooding included the silting up of the low water structures and culverts as well as of side drains, rock falls into side drains, erosion of existing earth drains or erosion behind lined drains and the damage of asphalt surfacing on three low water structures.

The latest update on the road closures in the Western Cape is as follows:

• Franschhoek Pass remains closed due to several slips (“landslides”) along the road. On-site repair teams are working to reopen one lane of traffic by 31 October 2023. Once a single lane has been reopened, traffic will be managed through stop/go traffic operations. At this point it is unlikely that heavy motor vehicles will be allowed to use this road until both lanes of the Pass have been reopened. The estimated cost of these repairs is not yet available.
• Clarence Drive remains closed for “through traffic” with only a section of the road opened from the Gordon’s Bay approach up to The Grille Shack restaurant.  On-site repair teams are still working from both The Grille Shack and Rooi Els sides of the closure to restore those parts of the road that repair teams can reach. The Department of Infrastructure is aiming to reopen one lane of traffic along Clarence Drive by mid to late December 2023. The estimated cost of these repairs can only be assessed once all the clearing has been done.
• The Hemel-en-Aarde road between Caledon and the R43 near Hermanus remains temporarily closed. Flood damage caused portions of the road to be scoured and washed away by the Onrusrivier which traverses through the Hemel and Aarde valley. The damage caused to the roadway and road fill has been assessed and is currently considered unsafe for public use. On-site repair teams are working in order to have the road reopened for one-lane traffic under traffic by the end of October 2023. Once a single lane has been reopened, temporary traffic accommodation measures will be implemented through stop/go traffic signals. Currently, the most important measure is to make the road safe and open again for use by the traveling public. Permanent repairs of the damaged road and road infrastructure is estimated to cost R80 million.
• Good progress is being made to fully reopen the road between the R317 and McGregor. Both lanes of this road are expected to be reopened to traffic by 20 October 2023. The entire project, including resurfacing, is expected to be complete by 31 October 2023. The estimated cost of these repairs is not yet available.
• A single lane of traffic is currently open at the intersection of the R43 and the R44 near Kleinmond. After initial assessments and further investigations, the repairs to the failed culvert at this intersection are expected to be complete by late January 2024. The estimated cost of these repairs is not yet available.
• The road through Meiringspoort (N12), between the towns of Klaarstroom and De Rust, was also damaged. The road has, however, been cleared of debris and siltation from the river overtopping some of the low water structures and is currently open to traffic without any traffic accommodation measures or single lane stop and go in place.
• update (11 October 2023): The Chapman's Peak Drive is open! It is hoped that Chapman’s Peak Drive will be reopened by the end of this week. This is subject to clearance from geotechnical consultants. Damage to the roadway was limited.