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Roads storm damage report - July and August 2024

Information

13 August 2024

Good progress is being made with the reinstatement on the washed away section of the MR310 (R303) which directly links the town of Citrusdal to the N7. While this is an active construction site, one-way traffic with stop-and-go traffic accommodation is in place. A reminder: should road user behaviour endanger the lives of road workers, we will be forced to close the road until construction is completed.

29 July 2024

Citrusdal road update: Unfortunately, water volumes caused the berm to be breached again. The construction area has been flooded. Water voumes will first have to drop to repair the berm before road construction commence.

27 July 2024 - 3 pm

The road that directly links Citrusdal to the N7 is the MR310 (also known as the R303). During 2023 the section between km marker 112.84 and km marker 112.93 washed away and was successfully rebuilt.

26 July 2024 - 10:30 am

Of the four major access routes to Citrusdal, two have been reopened. The Department of Infrastructure is cautiously optimistic that, weather and water-level permitting, a third will be open to traffic by tomorrow, 27 July 2024.

23 July 2024 - 3 pm

Citrusdal Access routes Update:
Update on important access routes:

  • The MR310 that links Citrusdal to the N7 is closed until further notice.
  • Citrusdal-N7 via MR539 – the low water bridge on this route is under water and is closed until further notice.
  • Citrusdal-N7 via Clanwilliam (MR539 to DR2183 and to the N7 via Clanwilliam – the road water level has risen.
  • Citrusdal-Ceres via MR310 this road is open, note work continue to improve the conditions, and smaller vehicles must be aware that it may be uncomfortable at times, please take caution.

View the latest update.

17 July 2024 - 4 pm

All access routes for Citrusdal remain closed.

16 July 2024 - 6 pm

The TR27/1, (R44) Clarence Drive at Rooiels and MR191, Franschoek Pass in the Overberg District Municipality are open.

16 July 2024 - 9 am

Cape Town update: N2, no standing water at Robert Sobukwe outbound, N2, water still present at Borcherds Quarry outbound, the N1 near Wingfield outbound. Inner closed due to flooding.

15 July 2024 - 5 pm

Please obey all road signs – they are there for very good reasons and should not be moved. Moving boards not only places your life in danger but also everyone following you not knowing the road is officially closed. If you are driving and come across flooded roads, please take great care. If the water is too deep for you to see the roadway, turn around and take another route.

15 July 2024 - 1:30 pm

MR264, Kars River Bridge Bredasdorp/Swellendam and MR268, Infanta road at Diepkloof Malgas in the Overberg District Municipality are open.

15 July 2024 - 9 am

DR1440 Kuiltjieskraal Wolsley in the Cape Winelands municipality is open to local access only.

14 July 2024 - 5 pm

All access routes for Citrusdal are closed. It should be noted: Where water levels allow emergency vehicles to pass, they will receive access. This does not mean the public can utilise the road at this stage.

14 July 2024 - 1 pm

All access routes for Citrusdal closed.

Update on important access routes:

  • The MR310 that links Citrusdal to the N7 is closed until further notice.
  • Citrusdal-N7 via MR539 – the low water bridge on this route is under water and is closed until further notice.
  • Citrusdal-N7 via Clanwilliam (MR539 to DR2183 and to the N7 via Clanwilliam – the road water level has risen.
  • Citrusdal-Ceres via MR310 this road is closed at Elandskloof until further notice.

View the latest update.

14 July 2024 - 9 am

Where roads are underwater, the roadway may have been damaged or washed away. There may be obstacles under the water you cannot see. Water flow may be strong enough to wash your vehicle away. Keep yourself and your loved ones safe on the road.

13 July 2024 - 1 pm

Please obey all road signs – they are there for very good reasons, and should not be moved. Moving boards not only places your life in danger but also everyone following you not knowing the road is officially closed. If you are driving and come across flooded roads, please take great care. If the water is too deep for you to see the roadway, turn around and take another route.

13 July 2024 - 9 am

Reminder:

  • The MR310 that links Citrusdal to the N7 is closed until further notice after a section of the road was washed away, due to the river breaking its banks. It will only be possible to rebuild this road once water levels have subsided. Road users are advised that the washaway is in a different place to the washaway that took place in the floods of June 2023.
  • Citrusdal-N7 via MR539 – the low water bridge on this route is under water and is closed until further notice.
  • Citrusdal-N7 via Clanwilliam (MR539 to DR2183 and to the N7 via Clanwilliam – the road has been washed away and can therefore not be used until further notice.
  • Citrusdal-Ceres via MR310 – this road is closed at the Elandskloof low water bridge until further notice.

View the latest update.

12 July 2024 - 5 pm

The floods of the week of 8 July have had a severe impact on roads in and out of Citrusdal. A number of important access routes are closed in parts.

  • The MR310 that links Citrusdal to the N7 is closed until further notice after a section of the road was washed away, due to the river breaking its banks. It will only be possible to rebuild this road once water levels have subsided. Road users are advised that the washaway is in a different place to the washaway that took place in the floods of June 2023.
  • Citrusdal-N7 via MR539 – the low water bridge on this route is under water and is closed until further notice.
  • Citrusdal-N7 via Clanwilliam (MR539 to DR2183 and to the N7 via Clanwilliam – the road has been washed away and can therefore not be used until further notice.
  • Citrusdal-Ceres via MR310 – this road is closed at the Elandskloof low water bridge until further notice.

View the latest update.

12 July 2024 - 10 am

The OP5733, Sonskyn in the Cape Winelands District Municipality is open. MR546 Lutzville at low water bridge, and the Old Malmesbury Road between Kalbaskraal and Abbotsdale in the West Coast region remain closed.

12 July 2024 - 8:30 am

Nethercourt Road and Van der Stel Pass in the Overberg region remain closed. The N2 Botrivier is partially open and is being monitored.

11 July 2024 - 5 pm

Regardless of what kind of vehicle you drive, your tyres are probably unsuitable for driving on a road with snow, ice or hail on it. If you come across snow, ice or hail on any road, slow down gradually, increase your following distance, do not make sudden direction changes, and do not brake or accelerate harshly or suddenly.

11 July 2024 - 2 pm

Borcherds Quarry outbound offramp in Cape Town, and MR355 Wilderness Heights and Towranten in the Garden Route District remain closed.

11 July 2024 - 9:30 am

The TR9/2, Du Toits Kloof Pass, and MR201, Bainskloof pass in Cape Winelands remain closed. We urge all road users to obey every road sign, this include road closure signs and especially those for snow closure.

10 July 2024 - 3:30 pm

Franschhoek Pass is closed due to the current inclement weather. Current slip areas are extremely saturated. The earliest the Pass will reopen is 10 am on 11 July.

10 July 2024 - 11 am

The Western Cape has been experiencing severe weather over the past couple of days. While, in many cases, roads have been reopened, there are others that remain closed. The Department of Infrastructure will only be able to assess the damage (if any) and work on repairs once water levels have subsided.

9 July 2024 - 5 pm

When a road is closed, it is closed to all road users and to all vehicle types. Roads are only closed for safety reasons. Emergency personnel must be free to respond to unavoidable emergencies. The last thing anyone wants is for a fun trip to turn into tragedy.

9 July 2024 - 1:30 pm

The MR310, Gydo Pass is now operating with stop/go signage. This is being monitored and may change.

9 July 2024 - 08:30

The MR310, Gydo Pass, and the TR22/2, Theronsberg Pass in the Cape Winelands District Municipality remain closed due to snow. The MR265, Bredasdorp Stormvlei and the DR1213, Kleinheuwel in the Overberg District Municipality are open for local access only.

8 July 2024

Keep yourself and your loved ones safe on the road. We are well aware that there are motorists who want to travel to see the snow in person, and we urge all road users to please obey every road sign, this include road closure signs and especially those for snow closure – it is there for a very good reason, your safety.

When a road is closed, it is closed to all road users and to all vehicle types. Roads are only closed for safety reasons. Emergency personnel must be free to respond to unavoidable emergencies. The last thing anyone wants is for a fun trip to turn into tragedy.

Because snow is uncommon in South Africa, especially in urban areas, drivers may not be accustomed to driving in snow and on icy or hail-covered roads. Snow, ice and hail are very slippery. Regardless of what kind of vehicle you drive, your tyres are probably unsuitable for driving on a road with snow, ice or hail on it. If you come across snow, ice or hail on any road, slow down gradually, increase your following distance, do not make sudden direction changes, and do not brake or accelerate harshly or suddenly.