Louis Fourie still on track for completion in 2026

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17-09-2024
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Mossel Bay Advertiser
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"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 head of department, Advocazte Chantal Smith.

MOSSEL BAY NEWS - Despite some difficulties, the Louis Fourie Road project is still set to be completed in 2026, the Department of Infrastructure (DOI) said in its latest update on 11 September. 

The department indicated that the estimated completion date is towards the end of the second quarter of 2026.

The department noted in a statement it is hard at work upgrading a 3.26km portion of Louis Fourie Road in Mossel Bay between Beach Boulevard West and Garret Street. The project commenced in July 2022. 

The project is unusually complex because it includes the relocation of numerous services such as municipal water mains, a municipal sewer trunk line, a municipal electrical substation, telecommunications infrastructure and 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. 

Traffic congestion 

"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 head of department, Advocazte Chantal Smith. 

"We are doing everything in our power to ensure the project progresses as quickly as possible. 

"One example is the construction of the four intersections along the route from Beach Boulevard West to Beach Boulevard East. 

"Original planning was for a half-width construction of these four intersections which would have entailed two months of inconvenience to road users. 

"By doing a full closure of each of the intersections consecutively, the construction process for each intersection can be completed within two weeks. 

"Once these four intersections are completed there will not be any further intersection closures until construction starts on the western (inland) side of the road. 

"We remain 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. 

Blinde River Bridge 

Piling for the foundations of the new Blinde River Bridge on the inland side of Louis Fourie Road is complete and the construction of the bridge foundations and abutment walls on the right hand side is underway. 

The lanes open to traffic have moved to the western (inland) side so that the new bridge works on the eastern (coastal) side can commence. 

Given the limited workspace at the Blinde River, the DOI expects traffic to be slow here for about one year while the eastern side of the bridge is built. 

Traffic lights 

The new lights at the Shell service station have been optimised as much as possible. The DOI is aware that these signals are having an impact on the flow of traffic, but this is a necessary step to enable construction to proceed at the Alwyndal link to the N2. 

These signals will have to remain in place for about one year. 

The coming closure of a section of Garret Street is anticipated from 25 September to 13 December to allow half-width construction of this link road between Louis Fourie Road and Bayview. 

Garret Street 

Construction of the Garret Street bridge has been completed and backfilling of the rail embankment is almost complete. This section of road will be closed as a thoroughfare between Bayview and Louis Fourie for commuters and daily through traffic. 

Only local access to businesses on Voorbaai Crescent will be allowed. "Traffic impact will therefore not be on businesses in the area but to road users who currently use Garret Street as a thoroughfare from Bayview," the DOI noted.