Provincial Minister of Infrastructure Tertuis Simmers: Updates on Road Closure Status

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.

“A key route that overtopped earlier is the MR310 which links the town of Citrusdal to the N7”, said Provincial Minister for Infrastructure, Tertuis Simmers. “This is a road that has overtopped before. It is important to note that the town is not cut off and alternative routes towards Clanwilliam and Ceres that remain open are the DR2183, DR539 and DR1487. We are also cautiously optimistic that the Gydo Pass will be reopened during the course of the day which will provide another road link to Citrusdal. We are aware that these alternative routes have a number of low-water bridges which means heavy motor vehicles should not use these roads for the time being. We will monitor conditions and, when safe for public use, allowing one-way traffic through,” Minister Simmers added.

“The department is well aware of the current situation and understand that this is frustrating to residents, but we are all at the mercy of the weather. It is disheartening that some people are trying to suggest the overtopping of the MR310 is simply a road matter when they are aware that making infrastructure future-proof and climate change resilient will take time. The department has to strategically allocate its resources to routes across the entire provincial road network at a time when government has limited resources,” the Minister concluded.

• View the latest storm roads update