The Western Cape Government’s Department of Infrastructure (DOI) and its appointed professional team are making good progress on Contract C0964.02, the upgrading of Louis Fourie Road in Mossel Bay. This R520 million project over the anticipated 44 months is the largest provincial government investment in road infrastructure in the Garden Route District Municipality.
“In road construction projects the work behind the scenes and which may not be visible to a member of the travelling public is what takes time. This project has now reached the phase in the project lifecycle where the road user would see the progress”, said Jandré Bakker, Acting Director: Operational Support, for the Department of Infrastructure.
The project recently achieved a milestone goal when traffic was diverted onto the newly constructed carriageway between The Lofts and Vredebest on Wednesday, 16 April 2025.
Road users should also take note of the upcoming milestones in the coming months:
• The opening of the new On-ramp from Vyfbrakkefontein Road to the N2 – 9 May 2025.
• The opening of the new Off-ramp from the N2 to Vyfbrakkefontein – end May 2025. The temporary ramp past the Shell Garage will remain in place for now until the traffic circle at Vyfbrakkefontein Road is fully completed.
• Extensive works on the entrance to the Langeberg Mall to establish the alignment of the new road.
Bakker went on to alert road users of changes from 30 April: “There are two points that may cause inconvenience to road users and requires them to consider alternative travel routes and plan for additional travel time:
• The closure of the slip-lane from the Langeberg Mall onto Louis Fourie Road in the direction of Mossel Bay: This slip lane will remain closed until the new alignment is completed. This is currently anticipated for late June 2025.
• The closure of the Garret Street Intersection with Louis Fourie Road from 30 April 2025 to 17 May 2025 for the construction of the permanent layer works at the new intersection to be completed. Road users will not be able to access Garrett Street directly from Louis Fourie Road – access for local businesses will remain in place from Bayview or Gericke Street.
𝐎𝐛𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐛𝐲 𝐫𝐨𝐚𝐝 𝐮𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐬
Road users may have noted the difference in level between the road surface and kerb-and-channel along Louis Fourie Road and Garrett Street. Road users are reminded that works on this section are not complete, as the final asphalt surface must still be constructed. We have received complaints of ponding along the new carriageway which will be addressed once the final asphalt surfacing is in place. All indications are that the drainage structures performed according to plan during recent rains. Road users are reminded that the roadway and full road reserve is an active construction site.
𝐓𝐢𝐦𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐬
Provincial Minister of Infrastructure Tertuis Simmers expressed his satisfaction with progress to date: “The most recent figures up to end-March 2025 shows that R40 million of the targeted R85 million has been spent on targeted enterprises. The target of 58 000 person days of work is also well on its way to being reached with the most recent verified figure standing at 32 600 person-days of work created. This means 238 work opportunities have already been achieved of the target of 250. In addition, the project is also making good progress in terms of its local subcontractor development programmes. In spite of its challenges, the project has seen the appointment of 29 subcontract work packages at the total estimated amount of over R9.4 million thus far. The number of dedicated subcontract work packages will increase as the project works progresses towards the completion of the major structures and layer works.
“The latest project progress report indicates that the project is currently at 60% complete. This project is still on track to be completed by the end of the second quarter of the 2026/27 financial year,” Minister Simmers added.
𝐈𝐧𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐫𝐨𝐚𝐝 𝐮𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐬
The DOI is aware of the inconvenience the roadworks is causing and thanks residents for their patience during this short-term pain. Louis Fourie Road was already under significant strain due to heavy traffic volumes (one of the main reasons for the upgrade) and there is a marked increase in traffic every month. . Driving through an active construction site is challenging. However, apart from the loss of some traffic flow capacity at certain intersections, the road has remained a single lane, two-directional roadway for traffic throughout the construction period.
𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐫𝐨𝐚𝐝 𝐮𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐫 𝐩𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞
The DOI wishes to thank road users for their patience during the construction period. “We remain confident that the long-term benefit will out-perform the short-term inconvenience of road users and that the investment in infrastructure will unlock more economic opportunities,” Minister Simmers concluded.
