Relief came for many motorists travelling between Paarl and Worcester after traffic movement through the N1, Du Toitskloof and Huguenot Tunnel area improved significantly on Thursday (14 May) morning following days of disruptions.
The disruptions came as a result of two cold fronts that swept in across the Western Cape over the weekend causing heavy flooding, mudslides and damage to infrastructure.
“Motorists are advised that traffic flow through the N1, du Toitskloof and Huguenot Tunnel area has improved the following incident management operations,” says Maxine Bezuidenhout, Western Cape Mobility chief director for Traffic Management.
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The Western Cape Mobility Department confirmed in a 10:00 update that one lane in each direction on the N1 has been reopened by SANRAL, allowing vehicles to move once again between Cape Town and Worcester.
The Huguenot Tunnel, which forms a critical transport link between the Cape Winelands and the rest of the province, is now operational in both directions.
Authorities also confirmed that the Du Toitskloof Pass on the R101 has reopened to all vehicles, including trucks transporting hazardous goods.
The reopening follows ongoing incident management operations in the area after severe weather and traffic-related disruptions caused major delays for commuters and freight transporters earlier this week.
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Although traffic has started flowing again, officials warned that congestion is still expected as traffic volumes gradually return to normal.
“Although traffic is flowing again motorists are urged to continue travelling with caution, obey all road signage and instructions from officials on sight and remain patient as congestion and delays may still occur in the area,” added Bezuidenhout.
The mobility department said emergency and road management teams will continue monitoring the situation closely to ensure the safety of road users.
In the meantime, several road closures remain in place across the Western Cape. This include Franschhoek Pass and Meiringspoort in the Prince Albert area
