Update: 14 July, 10pm
Traffic Notice: HMV’s to avoid Michell’s Pass and seek alternative routes
The Witzenberg Traffic Management has advised drivers of heavy motor vehicles (trucks) to avoid the Michell’s Pass until further notice.
This is in order to avoid any further damage to the problematic section near the railway crossing as a result of the recent adverse weather.
Although a stop and go is currently in place, heavy vehicles are urged to utilize alternative routes until further notice.
Update, 13 July at 12pm:
The Western Cape Department of Infrastructure urges all road users to obey every road sign, including road closure signs and especially those for snow closure.
‘Because snow is uncommon in South Africa, especially in urban areas, drivers may not be accustomed to driving in snow and on icy or hail-covered roads. Snow, ice and hail are very slippery,’ the department said.
‘Regardless of what kind of vehicle you drive, your tyres are probably unsuitable for driving on a road with snow, ice or hail on it. If you come across snow, ice or hail on any road, slow down gradually, increase your following distance, do not make sudden direction changes, and do not brake or accelerate harshly or suddenly.’
The department also provided the following update regarding Citrusdal:
- The MR310 that links Citrusdal to the N7 is closed until further notice after a section of the road was washed away, due to the river breaking its banks. It will only be possible to rebuild this road once water levels have subsided. Road users are advised that the wash-away is in a different place than the wash-away that took place in the floods of June 2023.
- Citrusdal-N7 via MR539 – the low water bridge on this route is underwater and is closed until further notice.
- Citrusdal-N7 via Clanwilliam (MR539 to DR2183 and the N7 via Clanwilliam – the road has been washed away and can therefore not be used until further notice.
- Citrusdal-Ceres via MR310 – this road is closed at the Elandskloof low-water bridge until further notice.
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These are the status of roads for today, 13 July:
Cape Winelands District Municipality
Closed:
- TR9/2 Old N1, intersection Worcester and Rawsonville
- MR288, Drew Bridge Breede River
- MR289, Rooibrug Bonnievale Robertson
- MR201, Bainskloof pass
- MR290 Victoricia brug Roberston
- MR298 Goudiniweg
- MR299, Wyzerdrift
- DR1152 Hermon-Bo (North of Soetendal junction)
- DR1154, Sonkwas drif
- DR1337, Wandsbek
- DR1341, Die Plaat
- DR1351, Robertsvlei
- DR1379, Merwe Street
- DR1395 Aan de Doorns (Rooipad)
- DR1398, Slanghoek low water bridge and km 6.1 one lane closed
- DR1400, De Wet/Nuy
- DR1489 Modderdrift
- DR1438 Malherbe
- OP5662 Bossieveld
- OP5663, De Hoek
- OP5719, Kannetvlei
- OP5731 Klipheuwel de Doorns
One lane/Partially open:
- TR22/1 Michells Pass
- MR27, Stellenbosch to Somerset West
- MR310, Oppieberg – DR1470 (Droehoek)
- DR1452, Bo-Swaarmoed (snow) – Bakkies and SUV’s to proceed with caution.
Local access only:
- DR1440 Kuiltjieskraal Wolsley
Open:
- TR9/2, Du Toits Kloof Pass
- TR22/2, Theronsberg Pass (snow) – monitored may change
- MR302(R43, Worcester/Ceres bridge – monitored may change
- MR310, Gydo Pass (snow) – Operating with Stop/Go; being monitored may change
- OP5733, Sonskyn
Overberg District Municipality
Closed:
- TR27/1, (R44) Clarence drive at Rooiels
- TR29/2, Bredasdorp/Arniston
- MR261, Bredasdorp/Struisbaai
- DR1205, Elim/Struisbaai
- DR1207 De Mond
- DR1209, Wiesdrift road
- DR1212, Droëmelkbos road (Arniston-Struisbaai link)
- DR1220, Avoca road
- DR1227, Napier station
- DR1263, Malgas Pont
- DR1279, Nethercourt road
- DR1288 van der Stel Pass
- DR1309, Bloemenkraal
- OP4032, Witwater near Stanford
- OP4036, Hermanuspietersfontein road
- OP4037, Klein Transvaal
- OP4041, Korsika at Baardskeerdersbos
- OP4044, Tierfontein road at Baardskeerdersbos
- OP4096, Pebbles
- OP5608, Skoongesig
- OP 6067, Eenboom, Barrydale
One lane/Partially open:
- DR1211, Baardskeerdersbos to Pearly Beach
Local access only:
- MR268, Infanta road at Diepkloof Malgas
- DR1213, Kleinheuwel
- DR1217, Elim/Jan Swartskraal
- DR1218, Papiesvlei road
- DR1219, Napier/Elim
- DR1257, Solitaire road
- DR1276, Dassiesfontein road
- DR1294, Greyton road
- DR1311, Uitkyk / Middelplaas
- DR1313, Helderstroom / Middelplaas
- OP4027, Flowervalley
- OP4033, Witwater/Klein River
- OP4040 Boesmanrivier
- OP4046, Wolwengat
- OP4047, Sandpad road
- OP4052, High Rising
- OP4121, Dwaalhoek road
- OP4170 Elim/ Kersgat
- OP4171, Boskloof/Kersgat road
- OP4430, Grashoek road
Open:
- MR191, Franschoek Pass
- MR264, Kars River Bridge Bredasdorp/Swellendam
- MR279, Vye boom to Villiersdorp (Theewaterskloof dam)
- DR1216, Boskloof
- DR1269, Vlakkloof
- OP4430, Grashoek road (Vredenhoek)
- OP4493, Voorhuis
West Coast
Closed:
- MR310 N7-Citrusdal at Caltex garage
- MR310 Citrusdal – Elandskloof closed Being monitored may change
- MR530 Bergrivierstasie
- MR539, N7 to Algeria
- MR542, Brandewynsrivier
- MR544 Melkboompad
- MR546 Lutzville at low water bridge
- MR547 Vredendal Klaver
- DR1111, Old Malmesbury road between Kalbaskraal and Abbotsdale
- DR1138, Kalbaskraal to N7
- DR1149 Biesiesfontein Malmesbury
- DR1154, Sonkwas drif
- DR1159, Paddavlei
- DR2176 Noordhoek plaas
- DR2182, Algeria pad
- DR2205, lemoenkloof
- DR2209 Kapel pad
- DR2213 Kleinrivier pad
- DR2262 Wupertal Pad low water bridge
- DR2262 Biedowriver
- OP7608, Moravia
- OP7626, Klipbank
- OP7763, Broodkraal
- OP7865, Boskloof
- OP8099, Wuppertal to Eselbank
One lane/Partially open:
- DR1487, Uitkyk pass, Stop and go in places
Cape Town
Closed:
- Borcherds Quarry outbound offramp
- TR77/1
One lane/Partially open:
- N2 outbound before Robert Sobukwe
SANRAL
Open:
- N1 About 10km outside Worcester. (Dewet on route to De Doorns)
- N1 Lainsburg area
One lane/Partially open:
- N2 being monitored but open at Houw Hoek
- N2 Botrivier is being monitored
Central Karoo
Open:
TR58/1, Molteno Pass
Garden Route District Municipality
Prior to weekend damage:
- DR1316, Korente rivier
- DR1577, Kruisrivier
- DR1618, Gwaing
- DR1665, Okkertskraal
- DR1675, Doornkloof
- DR1676, Vleirivier
- DR1689, Potgieterspoort
- DR1703, Rooiloop
- DR1835, Kouga
- DR1840, Hartbeesrivier
- OP4548, Slangrivier
Route numbers
- An ‘N’-route is a national route
- An ‘R’- route is a regional/provincial route
Provincial Road Number
- TR (Trunk Road / ‘Grootpad’)
- MR (Main Road / ‘Hoofpad’)
- DR (Divisional Road / ‘Afdelingspad’)
- OP (Minor road / ‘Ondergeskikte pad’) – small road that mainly connects agricultural communities
Severe weather has battered parts of the Western Cape over the past week, resulting in road closures and infrastructural damage.
The Western Cape Government’s Department of Infrastructure says it will only be able to assess the damage and work on repairs once water levels have subsided.
Also read: Overnight weather wrecks havoc across the Western Cape
‘A key route that overtopped earlier is the MR310 which links the town of Citrusdal to the N7,’ says 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, [allow] one-way traffic through.’
The WCG advises motorists of the following status of roads:
Cape Winelands District Municipality
Closed:
- TR9/2 Du Toits Kloof Pass
- MR288, Drew Bridge Breede River
- MR301 Bainskloof pass
- DR1154, Sonkwas drif
- DR1341, Die Plaat
- DR1351, Robertsvlei
- DR1379, Merwe Street
- DR1398, Slanghoek low water bridge
- DR1400, Nuy
One lane/partially open:
- TR22/2, Theronsberg Pass (snow) – Operating with Stop/Go; being monitored may change.
- MR27, Stellenbosch to Somerset West
- MR310, Gydo Pass (snow) – Operating with Stop/Go; being monitored may change.
- DR1452, Bo-Swaarmoed (snow) – Bakkies and SUV’s to proceed with caution.
Overberg District Municipality
Closed:
- TR29/2, Bredasdorp/Arniston
- MR261, Bredasdorp/Struisbaai
- DR1205, Elim/Struisbaai
- DR1218, Papiesvlei road
- DR1220, Avoca road
- DR1227, Napier station
- DR1257, Solitaire road
- DR1276, Dassiesfontein road
- DR1278, Protem na R317, Riviersonderend
- DR1279, Nethercourt road
- DR1294, Greyton Road
- DR1309, Bloemenkraal
- DR1307, De Mond
- DR1311, Spesbona / Middelplaas
- DR1313, Helderstroom / Middelplaas
- OP4032, Witwater near Stanford
- OP4033, Witwater/Klein River
- OP4037, Klein Transvaal
- OP4036, Hermanuspietersfontein road
- OP4041, Korsika at Baardskeerdersbos
- OP4040, Boesman River
- OP4046, Wolwengat
- OP4096, Pebbles
- OP4416, Katlou road
- OP4430, Grashoek road
- OP6067, Eenboom
One lane/partially open:
- TR27/1, (R44) Clarence drive at Rooiels
- DR1288 van der Stel Pass
Open:
- MR264, Kars River Bridge Bredasdorp/Swellendam
- DR1269, Vlakkloof
- OP4493, Voorhuis
Local access only:
- MR265, Bredasdorp Stormvlei
- DR1213, Kleinheuwel
- OP4121, Dwaalhoek road
West Coast
Closed:
- MR530 Bergrivierstasie
- MR539, N7 to Algeria
- DR1111 Old Malmesbury Road between Kalbaskraal and Abbotsdale
- DR1154, Sonkwas drif
- DR2182 Algeria pad
- OP7608, Moravia
- OP7626, Klipbank
- OP7763, Broodkraal
- OP8099 Wuppertal to Eselbank
One lane/partially open:
- MR310, N7 to Citrusdal – Operating with Stop/Go; being monitored may change.
- DR1487, Uitkyk pass (snow)
Cape Town
Closed:
- N1 Koeberg inbound/outbound inner lanes offramp
- N2 Borcherds Quarry (full closure) offramp
- N2 Robert Sobukwe offramp
Central Karoo
Closed:
- TR58/1, Molteno Pass
Garden Route District Municipality
Closed:
- MR369, Swartberg Pass (snow)
For the comprehensive list, visit westerncape.gov.za.
Also read:
Cape of Good Hope SPCA urgently asks for donations, blankets and food