Louis Fourie project will have a positive impact on the economy

Louis Fourie Road infrastructure project will have a positive impact on the economy

Media release by the Western Cape Department of Infrastructure

The upgrading of Louis Fourie Road in Mossel Bay, by the Western Cape Department of Infrastructure is advancing well and set to be completed within deadline.  The upgrading of Trunk Road 33 Section 1 at Beach Boulevard West to Garret Street, starts just south of the Marsh Street Interchange and continues to the intersection leading to George.

This is the largest provincial infrastructure project in the area and is aimed at improving the traffic flow in this growing coastal town. Louis Fourie Road links Mossel Bay to Diaz Beach, Voorbaai, and Hartenbos. The contract commenced at the end of July 2022 and is set to be completed in 2026.

 “The contract participation goals of this project include providing at least 58,000 person-days of work to targeted labour, of which 13 057 have already been completed. This translates to at least 250 work opportunities, 104 of which have already been completed,” said Adv. Chantal Smith, Acting Head of Department. “A targeted enterprise spending goal over R85 million makes the Louis Fourie Road upgrade a key project for the DOI,” she added.

Provincial Minister of Infrastructure Tertuis Simmers said this project would add economic value to the area especially because it connects residential and business areas. “With the department contributing to nearly 87% of all infrastructure investment in the Garden Route District. Upgrading the single-lane carriageway to a dual-lane carriageway over a 3.5km section of Louis Fourie Road will have a positive impact on the economy. With the upgrading of the intersections along this portion of the road, the construction of a central median, realigning the Langeberg Mall access road to Depot Road, upgrading Langeberg Mall approach road to Louis Fourie Road, and the realignment of the N2 ramp terminal to Vyfbrakkefontein Road, including building a new traffic circle.”

The project scope also includes relocating a municipal water main, a municipal sewer trunk main, and the municipal Lofty Nel electricity substation, constructing a new rail-over-road bridge at Garret Street, constructing a new bridge over the Blinde River, repairing an existing portal culvert, building numerous retaining walls, and periodic maintenance consisting of an asphalt mill and overlay between Marsh Street and Hartenbos.  Care has been taken to protect the PetroSA pipeline located on Vyfbrakkefontein Road, and the raw water scour valve and chamber on a PetroSA water line will be relocated.

From a pedestrian safety perspective, the project includes the construction of a separate pedestrian sidewalk of approximately 900m on Louis Fourie Road (TR33/2) between Waboom Road and Sonskynvallei.

Current construction activities include temporary widening on the land side of the existing road for traffic accommodation purposes, the connection of the main sewer, protection works to PetroSA infrastructure, installing Telkom sleeves and relocating Telkom cables, building retaining walls at various locations, and installing a ground beam at the completed Garret Street rail-over-road bridge. The installation of temporary and permanent stormwater pipes continues. As part of the permanent roadworks, the pioneer layer at the Blinde River Bridge is being constructed while temporary on- and off-ramps are being built from the N2 to accommodate traffic during the construction of Vyfbrakkefontein Road.

 The department cautions road users against using the newly surfaced sections. While the temporary lanes may seem to be finished, several works still need to be completed. The envisaged date of moving traffic over to the temporary lanes on the land side of the project is towards the end of May 2024, and concerted efforts are being made to bring this date forward.

Points persons were deployed to direct traffic when the traffic signals at Watson Avenue recently became defective until the faulty cable could be replaced. Unprecedented levels of rain overwhelmed the capacity of 1,000 mm stormwater pipes at the intersection of Louis Fourie Road and George Road. The partially collapsed culvert under the fill embankment at the intersection of Louis Fourie Road and George Street will be replaced by two 1,800 mm stormwater pipes which have since been installed to handle heavy downpours in the future. Resurfacing and road marking will take place during the mill and fill process later in the project to avoid unnecessary costs.

“Through this project, a variety of job opportunities will be created for job seekers as well as the empowerment of Small Medium, and Micro Enterprise (SMMEs). This is further evidence of our commitment to using infrastructure projects as development opportunities in the Western Cape,” said the Minister.