Department of Infrastructure repairs to the N12 after the floods of 4 June 2024
The Central Karoo District as well as those parts of the Klein Karoo that fall in the Garden Route District were subject to abnormally high levels of rainfall on Tuesday, 4 June. This resulted in widespread flooding, with river water levels comparable to those experienced during the 1996 floods in the area. The flooding caused serious damage to the N12, which is a major freight link connecting the Garden Route District with the Central Karoo District and N1 at Beaufort West via the Meiringspoort Pass.
The Meiringspoort section of the N12 had to be closed early on 4 June for safety reasons. Later on the same day, the Nels River which flows under the N12 between Oudtshoorn and De Rust breached its banks and overtopped the Nels River Bridge. This meant the N12 had to be closed to traffic here. An irrigation water channel near the Nels River may have failed. The N12 eventually collapsed at this point.
Repairs to the N12 between Oudtshoorn and De Rust
The Department of Infrastructure (DOI) began inspections of the irrigation channel on the evening of 4 June as soon as it became clear that the road might fail. Arrangements were made to bring in heavy machinery on the next morning along with the required materials. This allowed the Department to begin work early on 5 June. Work on the failed road section continued until the evening of 6 June and the road between Oudtshoorn and De Rust was reopened at about 19:30 that evening.
Repairs to the N12 in Meiringspoort
Inspections were done on accessible parts of Meiringspoort on the day of the flooding, but no action could be taken because the Grootrivier River was still breaching its banks. The DOI had to wait for water levels to subside before it could bring in heavy construction machinery.
As soon as access to Meiringspoort became possible on 5 June, machinery was dispatched from the Central Karoo and Garden Route regions to undertake repair work from the Klaarstroom and De Rust sides respectively.
The DOI and its agents, the Roads Departments of the Central Karoo District and the Garden Route District mobilised one excavator, four front end loaders, three motor graders, four digger loaders, ten tipper trucks, rollers, mechanical brooms, water trucks and multiple maintenance teams. The first priority was to address road surface defects and remove obstructions in order to reinstate access to vehicle traffic. At the height of the mop up and repair operation more than 60 officials were present in Meiringspoort.
On 5 June at around 12:00, repair teams working from the Klaarstroom and De Rust sides were able to link up with each other. Damage inspections were conducted immediately, and the damage repairs were roughly quantified.
The DOI procured more than 2 500 tons of material for the repairs, which included G5 and G2 aggregates and cold asphalt. Delivery of this material started on the afternoon of Friday, 7 June. Fill materials from borrow pits in the area were also brought in for the road structure and pavement repairs.
The clean and repair operation continued throughout Saturday 8 June and Sunday 9 June. By the end of Sunday more than 1 000 tons of material had been brought into Meiringspoort and more than 1 000 tons of silt and debris had been removed.
Work continued in the week of 10 June. Because over 60 employees were willing to work long hours and give up their weekends to repair this important route, the Department was able to open this road sooner than initially anticipated.
By 13 June at 16:30 temporary works to the road surface were completed and Meiringspoort was reopened for traffic. The DOI will continue to monitor the condition of the road and routine maintenance will continue.
The damage that occurred was severe and not all repairs could be completed before the road was reopened. The repair strategy was to have a safe roadway for motorists travelling at reduced speed as soon as possible. Motorists should remain cautious when driving through Meiringspoort.
Meiringspoort is a World Heritage Site and is very popular among local and international tourists. We regret to inform the public that all rest areas remain closed to the public due to severe damage having been sustained to these areas. Substantial permanent repairs are required.
The DOI wants to thank the Western Cape Mobility Department’s traffic officers from Oudtshoorn and Beaufort West, the South African Police Service at Klaarstroom and De Rust, as well as Prince Albert Traffic Department for assisting in managing the travelling public. Thanks to the Disaster Management Services who also assisted in managing the response to people in need in affected areas and special thanks to all the government officials who did not hesitate to respond to the flooding event. The office of the DOI District Roads Engineer in Oudtshoorn is proud of what was achieved in a very short space of time.