TRAFFIC ADVISORY
SANRAL ADVISES ROAD USERS OF FLOOD DAMAGED ROADS IN LIMPOPO PROVINCE
Pretoria, 17 February 2025 – The South African National Roads Agency SOC Limited (SANRAL) advises road users of flood damage caused by inclement weather conditions on some of its national road network in Limpopo Province.
“The R529 national road section between Giyani and Tzaneen, the R518 national road between Mokopane and Marken, the national road R33 between Lephalale and Vaalwater, the national road R573 between Moteti and Oorloog as well as the R524 national road between Makhado and Thohoyandou have all been affected.
“The R529 national road between Giyani and Tzaneen was damaged by heavy rains where the road crosses the Great Letaba River. The damage has resulted in a slope failure, which caused the collapse of the paved shoulder, and Armco steel pipes have been washed away, including aprons and wing walls, making the road vulnerable to collapse. SANRAL’s routine road maintenance (RRM) team, working together with local traffic enforcement, closed the road after assessing the damage. A detour has been identified to divert traffic away from the damage,” said Madoda Mthembu, SANRAL’s Provincial Manager for Limpopo Province.
“The R518 national road between Mokopane and Marken has been damaged by heavy rains and a slope failure, resulting in a landslide at the Kloof Pass. One lane at Kloof Pass has been completely blocked by material falling from the slope. The road has been closed to traffic as a precaution. Motorists travelling from Lephalale to Mokopane can use the R518 to Marken and take the R561 which links with the N11 at Baltimore and from there to Mokopane and vice versa.
Mthembu also said that the R33 national road between Lephalale and Vaalwater has been damaged by heavy rains resulting in damaged pavement and the road has been closed to traffic. Motorists travelling from Lephalale can use the R510 and join the R520 towards Vaalwater and vice versa.
The R573 national road between Moteti village and Oorloog near Siyabuswa has been damaged by heavy rains resulting in the partial collapse of the major culvert. The road is still open to traffic. Should the collapse deteriorate, the road will be closed to traffic and the only alternative is the provincial road R568 from KwaMhlanga in Mpumalanga towards Siyabuswa which joins back to the R573 towards Marble Hall.
“The R524 national road between Makhado and Thohoyandou, on the other hand, is pothole ridden because of the floods damage. SANRAL is in the process of clearing water ponding on the road and fixing open potholes. This will largely depend on weather clearing up to allow for the maintenance teams to fix the potholes,” added Mthembu.
SANRAL is in discussions with the provincial and local law enforcement authorities to make road users public aware of where detours, temporary bypasses will be located, with proper signage to be erected.
SANRAL appeals to motorists to adhere to road warning signs, to reduce travel speed and drive with extreme caution in the heavy rains.