Good Progress on Emergency Flood Damage Repairs on Franschhoek Pass

Good progress is being made on a supplementary Department of Infrastructure (DOI) contract to conduct emergency slope stabilisation and road repairs on an 11.1 km section of the Franschhoek Pass (R45).

Heavy rainfall in October 2023 caused slope failures, erosion, debris build up, and deterioration of the road and drainage systems.

“Contractors are stabilising 16 cut and fill slopes along this portion of road by installing self-drilling soil nails, high-strength steel mesh, anchored gabion walls, and reinforced shotcrete,” said Jandré Bakker, DOI Director: Operational Support. “The road surface and subsoil drainage systems in the affected portion of road are being reinstated and improved. Damaged road pavement layers are being reinstated and stormwater drainage systems are being repaired. Erosion protection measures, such as rip rap and erosion control blankets, are also being installed,” he added.

A 24-hour road closure is in place between km 26.02 and km 29.21 to allow the repair work to be carried out.

“The road closure on this 3.19 km section of road has been put in place because it is an active construction site. The road is closed for safety reasons, and to mitigate the risk of further damage to an important pass caused by unauthorised vehicles,” said Western Cape Minister of Infrastructure Tertuis Simmers.

Minister Simmers, who visited the Franschhoek Pass project earlier this month, added, “I look forward to welcoming an international delegation next week to show them the works undertaken on this critical repair project. So far, this supplementary project has created 4 160 person-days of work and 56 work opportunities. This is part of our drive to stimulate job creation in our projects. We expect motorists to obey the law. Motorists who unlawfully ignore road closure signs will be fined and will not be able to lodge a claim if their vehicles are damaged in the construction area.”