Media Release: Good progress on Seven Passes flood-damage repairs

13 October 2026

Good progress is being made on a R73.6 million Western Cape Government Department of Infrastructure flood damage repair project on 10km of the MR355 (Seven Passes) road near George, as well as district roads west of George, and a district road in Wittedrif near Plettenberg Bay. The project is anticipated to be completed in March 2027, depending on whether there are further weather delays at several river crossings.

Five failed culverts are being replaced on MR355 with concrete pipes. Slips on this road are being repaired using piling and reinforced concrete decks in three places. Slips are being repaired with reinforced earth and gabion retaining walls in seven places, and with reinforced earth and a dry stack stone wall in one place. The drainage pipes on this road are being replaced with larger diameter concrete pipes. Layerworks are being restored on surfaced parts of MR355 that have subsided. These sections will be resurfaced when the layerworks are complete.

One failed causeway will be replaced on each of the district roads DR1602, DR1633 and DR1639 in the agricultural areas west of George and north of Brak River. A failed causeway on DR1602 will be replaced with a bridge once environmental authorisation has been obtained. The geometric alignment of this road is also being improved to make it safer. A failed causeway will be replaced on DR1791 at Wittedrif between Plettenberg Bay and Keurboomstrand, and a 150m section of this road is being raised by about 1 metre to tie into the new causeway.

“In addition to the benefits for residents and visitors of our infrastructure projects, these projects also benefit local labourers, targeted enterprises, local enterprises and emerging contractors”, said Provincial Minister of Infrastructure Tertuis Simmers. “

A total of 10 458 person-days of local labour has so far been utilised on this project against a target of 11 500. A total of 92 work opportunities has been created against a target of 135. R10.3 million has been spent on targeted enterprises against a target of R18.9 million. Goods and services have been procured from 4 local enterprises against a target of 6, and from 4 emerging contractors against a target of 3”, he added.

Media enquiries

Stephen Heyns
Acting Head of Communication
Western Cape Department of Infrastructure
stephen.heyns@westerncape.gov.za, 021 483 0597