3
July 2024 - Issued by the Western Cape Department of Infrastructure
The
Department of Infrastructure (DOI) is hard at – MEDIA work upgrading a 2.75km portion of Louis
Fourie Road in Mossel Bay between Beach Boulevard West and Garret Street. Louis
Fourie Road links Mossel Bay to Diaz Beach, Voorbaai, and Hartenbos. The project
commenced in July 2022 and, despite some difficulties, is still set to be
completed in 2026.
Project
C0964.02 involves major works, including turning the existing single
carriageway along this section into a dual carriageway, building two new
bridges, upgrading all of the intersections, and undertaking ancillary works.
The project is unusually complex because it includes having to relocate
services such as municipal water mains, a municipal sewer trunk line, a
municipal electrical substation, and additional protection works to the PetroSA
pipelines. In addition, the project has to accommodate the relocation of the
existing Telkom cables along the route into new ducting, and the installation
of a new level crossing for Transnet Freight Rail (TFR) at the Langeberg Mall
entrance.
“The
DOI is well aware that members of the public are frustrated by traffic
congestion caused by construction works along this route, and we offer our sincere
apologies”, said acting Head of Department Adv. Chantal Smith. “We are doing
everything in our power to ensure that the project progresses as quickly as
possible. That said, the upgrading of this section of Louis Fourie Road
involves major works along a busy road for an extended period. The work will
continue for approximately two more years. We are confident that, once the
project is finally complete, its benefit for Mossel Bay and nearby towns will
be felt for years to come”, she added.
A
temporary bypass is currently in use between Boland Park and Via Appie intersections
so that permanent roadworks can commence on the western (seaside) of Louis
Fourie, and the rest of the bypass between Via Appie and Garret Street will be
completed in due course. Work on the foundation and lower road layers is currently
underway between Agrimark and just beyond Boland Park. Most of the new
stormwater system has been put in place here and new streetlights have been
installed along this section.
The
construction of the Beach Boulevard West intersection will commence shortly,
and this intersection will be closed for a short time to allow for full width
construction. Traffic will be diverted through the Beach Boulevard East
intersection during this period. A temporary two-way bypass will be constructed
at the Total garage intersection (Industrial Road) when this intersection
upgrade is planned. Other intersection upgrades at Industrial Road and Beach
Blvd East are currently being planned and these intersections may also be
closed for approximately three days per intersection during construction. This
may result in further congestion and inconvenience in these areas, albeit for a
short duration. Half width construction of these intersections (which will
allow continued restricted access) will cause longer periods of congestion of a
month or more per intersection. The
concrete retaining walls are mostly complete on both sides of the road. This will
permit Telkom to install their new cables and fibre lines along the entire
construction zone.
Piling
for the foundations of the new Blinde River Bridge on the inland side of Louis
Fourie is nearly complete. The lanes open to traffic has moved to the western
(inland) side so that piling can be installed for this new bridge on the eastern
side. Given the limited workspace at the Blinde River, DOI expects traffic to
be slow here for about one year while the eastern side of the bridge is built.
New
traffic signals were installed at the Shell garage so that the Alwyndale link
up to the N2 bridge can be upgraded. The DOI is aware that these signals are
slowing the flow of traffic, but this is a necessary step to enable
construction to proceed. These signals will have to remain in place for
approximately one year. Further ways to alleviate the congestion here are
currently being looked at.
The
biggest challenge to traffic flow will come when construction commences at the
entrance to Langeberg Mall. Traffic accommodation will be carefully planned to minimise
access delays and to enable construction to take place at this location.
Construction
of the Garret Street Bridge has been completed and backfilling of the rail
embankment is almost complete. Once that is done, Transnet will be able to
reinstate the railway lines. Half-width construction is underway on Garret
Street under the bridge. When construction begins on the portion of Louis
Fourie from Vyfbrakkefontein to beyond the end of Garret Street, traffic will
be accommodated under half width operation so that stormwater installation and
road construction can proceed.
The
main contractor is on track to meet its contract participation goals in respect
of spending on local subcontractors. The subcontract to build the safe
pedestrian sidewalk at Sonskyn Vallei has been awarded and work is expected to
commence soon. Other subcontracts have been awarded to local sub-contractors
for work that includes the excavation of trenches, the construction of gabion
walls, pipelaying, manhole construction and kerbing.
ENDS.
Media
enquiries:
Mr. Jandré Bakker
Head of Communication
Western Cape Department of Infrastructure
jandre.bakker@westerncape.gov.za
