Road users travelling inland are advised to proceed with utmost caution when driving through the Riemhoogte Cutting on the N1 outside Beaufort West, as the shoulders have been removed to make allowances for a work zone for the contractor doing slope stabilisation in the cutting.
The R37 million slope-stabilisation project is well underway, and the lane configuration of two uphill north-bound lanes and a single downhill south-bound lane has been maintained since the contract’s start in January.
The restriction of the lane widths and the removal of the shoulders were necessitated to provide the contractor with a sufficient work area at the bottom of the cutting and still maintain two uphill lanes.
There will be no change in the configuration of the lanes, but the directional traffic will be maintained by delineators along the no-passing centre line on the road. This means there is currently no provision made for overtaking of slower moving downhill traffic.
“We appeal to motorists for patience, vigilance and courtesy when travelling through the cutting,” said Senzo Ngobese, Project Manager of Sanral. “Let us take collective responsibility for our safety and that of road construction workers and pedestrians.”
