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.

Cape Town: Section of Kloof Road closed for up to 18 month to repair storm damage! [update]

update (14 November 2023):  The City of Cape Town's Urban Mobility Directorate has announced that Kloof Road between Kloof Nek Road and Round House Road will remain closed for repairs for an estimated period of 24 months. Unfortunately, this section of the road is deemed unsafe for use due to extreme storm damage and will require major reconstruction.

The City of Cape Town's Urban Mobility Directorate has announced that Kloof Road between Kloof Nek Road and Round House Road will be temporarily closed to the public. According to a press release by the City, the estimated timeline for the necessary work could be 12 to 18 months before the road in Cape Town can be opened completely. The section of Kloof Road was deemed unsafe for use following the severe rainfall and subsequent flooding on Heritage Day long weekend (22 – 25 September 2023). The volume of rain over this weekend in an already saturated environment caused uncontrolled surface water runoff, which resulted in the instability of the embankment. This instability caused what is called slip failure of the slope along Kloof Road, meaning, the road surface and underlying layers are currently unstable and is therefore not safe for public access. We'll keep you posted! 

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.

Western Cape: CapeNature announces reopening dates for several nature reserves! [update #3]

update (12 October 2023): According to CapeNature's website:

• Swartberg Nature Reserve > Gamkaskloof is unfortunately closed until further notice due to safety concerns.
• Anysberg Nature Reserve > Selective accommodation facilities in Anysberg Nature Reserve are closed until beginning of 2024.
• Assegaaibosch Nature Reserve > Assegaaibosch Nature Reserve hiking trails will be closed until further notice to allow necessary trail maintenance to be conducted. Visitors are only allowed within the picnic area.
• Hottentos Holland Nature Reserve > The overnight huts Landroskop and Shamrock will be temporarily closed until 10 November 2023 due to weather damage. Furthermore, Aloe Ridge is also closed until further notice.
• Jonkershoek Nature Reserve > Jonkershoek's selective hiking trails are closed and the circular road is still under repair. Hikers must add an estimated 5km to their walk which is the distance from the MTO gate to the beginning hiking trails. Please note that Waterval 1 & 2, Panorama, Swartboskloof and Sosykloof trails are closed until further notice.
• Limietberg Nature Reserve > The facilities at all Limietberg private campsites are currently closed for upgrades and will remain so until the end of October 2023.
• Bliss on the Bay > Bliss on The Bay is closed until November 2023 due to repairs.
• Kogelberg Nature Reserve > Selective Kogelberg hiking trails are closed till further notice due to trail damage and repairs.
• Stony Point Nature Reserve > Stony Point Boardwalk is closed until November 2023 due to repairs.
• Cederberg Wilderness Area > Certain hiking trails, campsites, Kliphuis camping and accomodation, and the Bosherberge at Algeria are currently closed for repairs and will remain so until further notice.
• Groot Winterhoek Wilderness Area > The Suikerbekkie Hut is currently closed and will remain so until February 2024. This temporary closure is due to a natural disaster that has occurred in the area.
• Robberg Nature Reserve > Robberg Island is temporarily closed due to a natural disaster until further notice.

update (29 September 2023): CapeNature has released an update. Re-opening dates for the following reserves are indicated in brackets:

• Limietberg Nature Reserve (06 October 2023)
• Kogelberg Nature Reserve - all trails (07 October 2023)
• Anysberg Nature Reserve (02 October 2023)
• Swartberg trails (14 October 2023 )
• De Hoop Potberg (trails and eco-venue) and Whale Trail (02 October 2023)
• Jonkershoek Nature Reserve (29 September 2023)
• Assegaaibosch Nature Reserve (29 September 2023)
• Hottentots Holland Nature Reserve (incl Cape Canopy Tours) (03 October 2023)
• Cederberg Wilderness Area (Algeria) - all camp sites (01 December 2023)
• Gamkaberg Nature Reserve (07 October 2023)
• Vrolijkheid Nature Reserve (02 October 2023)
• De Mond Nature Reserve (07 October 2023)

update (27 September 2023): According to CapeNature's latest update, Kogelberg Nature Reserve and Stony Point Nature Reserve are still closed today. De Hoop Potberg (trails and eco-venue) and Whale Trail are expected to reopen on 02 October 2023. Gamkaberg Nature Reserve will now reopen on 07 October 2023. Cederberg Wilderness Area (Algeria) is open from today for day and overnight hiking.

CapeNature, the public institution with the responsibility for biodiversity conservation in South Africa's Western Cape, had to close several of its nature reserves due to the severe weather conditions and flooding the Cape region recently experienced. Kogelberg Nature Reserve, Stony Point Nature Reserve and De Hoop Nature Reserve remain closed until further notice, while the following seven nature reserves, and one trail, will reopen on:

• 28 September 2023 - Cederberg Wilderness Area
• 29 September 2023 - Jonkershoek Nature Reserve
• 29 September 2023 - Assegaaibosch Nature Reserve
• 30 September 2023 - Gamkaberg Nature Reserve
• 30 September 2023 - Vrolijkheid Nature Reserve
• 02 October 2023 - Anysberg Nature Reserve
• 02 October 2023 - Hottentots Holland Nature Reserve
• 14 October 2023 - Swartberg trails in the Swartberg Nature Reserve