The 30-month, R285-million project to improve the capacity and safety of traffic operations at the Refinery interchange is progressing according to plan. While there have been minor delays (28 days over the 30 months) which can be mainly attributed to weather conditions, the project is still on track to finish by the end of the first quarter of 2024.
Project overview and update:
The project has created 478 work opportunities which exceeds the target of 367 opportunities. Among the other achievements are 17 emerging contractors developed, 37 local enterprises supported, and close to R42.5 million spent on targeted enterprises.
The project involves the construction of an interchange which is located at the juncture of Trunk Road 11 Section 1 (N7) and Plattekloof Road (M14) – referred to as Refinery Interchange. The project is generally located along the M14 road reserve, and it includes the upgrade of the interchange ramps connecting to the N7. The site boundary includes all road and freeway sections required for advance warning signage and all areas where construction work is required.
The main objectives of upgrade are to improve the capacity and safety of traffic operations at the Refinery Interchange. The project implements a dual-carriageway system along Plattekloof Road.
To implement the dual east-west carriageway system, the existing interchange bridge – which had a substandard vertical clearance – was demolished and replaced by constructing two new bridges over the N7. Bridge B6068 (positioned south of the previous bridge) and bridge B6089 (positioned at the site of the previous bridge) will form the westbound and eastbound carriageways, respectively. To further accommodate the dualling of Plattekloof Road, the existing Road-over-Rail Bridge will be raised (with a concrete overlay) and widened to the south. Other improvements include widening the four interchange ramps and upgrading the two interchange terminals (at-grade intersections).
Traffic accommodation has been in place throughout the project with limited closures. The same number of lanes were active during the project than would have been on the old road. The only difference is that traffic accommodation was present and not traffic signals (traffic lights) – this may have resulted in slower but constant movement of traffic rather than quicker but stop-start traffic one would experience with traffic signals.
Some of the key milestones to date include the construction of the west-bound bridge (95% complete with sidewalks, stone pitching, and bridge-mounted streetlights to be completed), construction of the east-bound bridge (80% complete with balustrades, median island, and asphalting still to be completed) and the reconstruction of the eastbound carriageway of Plattekloof (80% with some ancillary works still to be completed).
“I am pleased with the progress that has been made on this project,” said Tertuis Simmers, provincial Minister of Infrastructure. “The project plays a critical role as it forms an integral part of the long-term development of the N7 corridor as well as the greater integrated transport plan for the Cape metropole.”
“I know that it has caused frustration and inconvenience during construction, but the team has demonstrated their commitment to sticking to the plan. The long-term benefit will be invaluable to the region. Thank you to our road users for your patience, and our teams for their continued efforts. I am particularly pleased by the number of jobs and Small, Medium, and Micro Enterprise (SMME) opportunities we’ve managed to create through the project,” Minister Simmer added.
Planned closure:
Road users are reminded of the scheduled closure: To commence with Phase 5 of roadworks, the Plattekloof Roadway over the N7 will be closed to traffic from 19:00 on 24 November 2023 to 05:00 on 27 November 2023. The N7 northbound off- and on-ramps, and the southbound off- and on-ramps at Refinery Interchange will remain open to traffic. Please refer to the attached flyer.
“We are aware that this closure coincides with the Black Friday weekend, but the closure can unfortunately not be rescheduled,” said Minister Simmers.
Motorists traveling towards Montague Gardens on the N7 from Cape Town can still use the Plattekloof offramp. Because traffic will not be flowing from Plattekloof, it will positively affect traffic flow from the N7 onto Plattekloof Road. Motorists can also exit the N7 earlier at Bosmansdam Road (M8) and travel along Koeberg Road or Montague Drive.
Motorists traveling to Montague Gardens on the N7 from Malmesbury can either use Malibongwe Drive or Bosmansdam Road (M8) to access Montague Gardens.
Motorists traveling to the Richmond/Burgandy area from Malmesbury can still use the Plattekloof offramp. They can also exit the N7 earlier at Malibongwe Drive and travel via Giel Basson Drive (M12) and Tygerberg Valley Road (M13).
Motorists traveling to the Richmond/Burgandy area from Cape Town can use Bosmansdam Road (M8) and rejoin Plattekloof Road (M14).
“All areas remain accessible. We request motorists to plan their journeys and be cognisant of the closure of the bridge on Plattekloof Road,” Minister Simmers concluded.
Tunez
Van der Merwe is approached by SANRAL one day who want to build a new highway through his donkey farm. Van is really concerned with how his donkeys can get from one side of the farm to the other without having to cross the highway and risk being injured or killed. He is promised that they will build bridges the highway so that his donkeys can cross under the highway. Van agrees and gives them the go-ahead.
The highway is built and a year later the same rep goes to the farm to go see how Van and his donkeys are. He eventually finds Van under one of these bridges chipping away at the roof of the tunnel with a hammer and chisel.
\”Mnr Van de Merwe, what are you doing damaging the highway bridge?\”
DuckDuck
Domkop – idiot [dom-kop] Similar to the German “dummkopf” or Dutch “domkop”, this term literally translates to “dumb head” and is a derogatory term used to describe someone who you think is stupid.Example: “Ag! You domkop! You broke my cell phone!”