Major progress on road upgrades between Oudtshoorn and George
Media Release by Western Cape Minister of Infrastructure Tertuis Simmers
The Western Cape Department of Infrastructure (DOI) is pleased to announce that good progress is being made on the strengthening of Trunk Road 1 Section 1, better known as the N9 between the towns of George (km 19.36) and Oudtshoorn (km 24.55) within the Garden Route District Municipality in the Western Cape.
“The motivation for this R203-million upgrade was driven by the need to update the road geometry, for safety improvements, and the improvement of sub-optimal drainage conditions,” said Jandré Bakker, DOI Director: Operational Support. “Currently the road is a two-way single carriageway road with 3.3 m lanes and 1.5 m gravel shoulders. It is now being upgraded to include 3.7 m lanes with 2 m surfaced shoulders to improve traffic flow and safety. OP06878 remains unchanged at a 7.8 m surfaced width and will be repaired and subsequently resealed. Additional improvements to TR1/1 include the replacement of outdated road signs, installation of new guardrails, fencing upgrades, improved horizontal and vertical alignments,” he continued.
“As part of the current construction activities on this project, the Contractor will be required to conduct blasting operations to remove and extract rock for construction purposes. Blasting is scheduled to commence on 10 March 2026. During each blasting operation, traffic will be halted at three control points for approximately three hours, between 14h00 and 17h00, to ensure the safe detonation of the blast and the removal of any loose material before the road is reopened to traffic”, he added.
“The project which started in October 2025 is on track to be completed by mid-2028 but like with all projects of this size it is dependent on a number of factors and the completion date may be pushed out or reigned in,” said Provincial Minister of Infrastructure, Mr. Tertuis Simmers.
“I support the Western Cape’s apex priority of “Growth for Jobs” and we have set ambitious contract participation goals for this project. By the time the project is completed we envisage that 34000 person days of work, which translates to 240 work opportunities would have been created. We have already achieved 927 person days of work which is 53 work opportunities in the short time since the project commenced,” the Minister added.
“I am further pleased to announce that we have set a target in excess of R32 million to be spent on targeted enterprises and by the time the project is complete, we should have put out 21 contracts to local enterprises and 6 contracts aimed at emerging contractor development,” the Minister continued.
“Regular road users are urged to regularly check the Western Cape Government social media handles for exact dates on which the blasting will take place. It will be communicated roughly two to three days ahead of the blasting for road users to plan additional travel time, delay travel or make use of the alternative route which is the Robinson Pass. As with all construction projects, there will be inconvenience to road users who have already felt it with the lane closures, but this capital investment will bring long-term benefits for the development of the area, Western Cape and its people”, concluded Provincial Minister Simmers.
Additional information (Scope of the project)
The below scope of work is merely an outline of the major contract works:
- Upgrading of TR1/1 to a Class 1 cross-section;
- Accommodation of traffic, the erection of temporary road signs, and other traffic control devices;
- Widening and stabilisation of existing shoulders;
- Construction of mass earthworks;
- Construction of Selected Subgrade layers;
- Construction of a Subbase (stabilised) and a crushed-stone base pavement layer;
- Construction of bituminous surfacing (20mm Cape Seal + Two (2) Slurries);
- Construction of Mechanically Stabilized Earth Wall at km 19.50 to km 19.58;
- Construction of concrete edge beams at various farm accesses and minor intersections;
- Construction of precast box and pipe culverts and cast in situ concrete box culverts;
- Construction of subsurface drains, side drains and erosion protection works;
- Reseal of Road OP6878 from km 0.00 to km 1.98;
- Construction of fencing;
- Construction of guardrails and asphalt berms;
- Road marking and the supply and erection of road signs;
- Protection of slopes and the establishment of vegetation;
- Testing of materials.
- Current progress and key activities
- Search and rescue of special plant species of concern from km 23.50 to km 23.55 RHS;
- Topsoil removal at km 23.50 RHS;
- Identification of remedial work of culverts at km 23.621 and km 23.446;
- In-situ stabilisation of temporary widening from km 21.93 to km 24.55 LHS;
- Preparation of Stockpile Area 2 at km 24.0 RHS;
- Pre-qualification and vetting processes for TE’s.
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Media Enquiries:
Melt Botes
Spokesperson to Provincial Minister Tertuis Simmers
Tel: 021 483 8067
Cell: 082 431 0068
Email: Melchior.Botes@westerncape.gov.za
