Update 14 – Gwaiing Road Construction Works, George

04 March 2026

The road project is anticipated to be completed by the end of March 2026.

The project incurred some delays as a result of the recent rainfall which delayed the curing and drying process of the layerworks.

The final gravel layer on the left hand side (LHS) lane has been processed and the team is awaiting the laboratory test results of the soil samples taken. As soon as the layer is approved, the final bituminous seal is ready to be placed on the lane. Once the LHS lane has been sealed, the road markings will be painted and all road signage will be erected.

The Concrete team is in the process of completing all concrete works on the site, and the final shaping of the road shoulders are also in progress.

ENDS

Update 13 – Gwaiing Road Construction Works, George

14 January 2026

The Garden Route District Municipality (GRDM) Roads Services Team resumed construction work on the Gwaiing Road yesterday.

Construction teams are currently importing material for the final gravel layer on the left-hand side (LHS) lane. Processing of this layer is expected to commence towards the end of the week. The project remains on track, with the second lane scheduled to be sealed and fully completed during February.

Concrete works for the remaining side drains are also in progress.

Access to the road remains restricted to residents only, with a 40 km/h speed limit in place. Traffic is currently limited to single-lane flow on the completed surfaced section, as the LHS lane remains closed for construction.

ENDS

Public Notice: Builders break and traffic flow on surfaced lane DR1618 – Gwaiing Road

Notice Number: 128/2025

Notice is hereby given that the Garden Route District Municipality will be on a Builders break from 12/12/2025 to 12/01/2026 and one-way traffic flow with a speed limit of 40km/h will be maintained on the surfaced lane.

Access is strictly restricted to residents and their stakeholders residing along DR1618.

Construction operations are pending on the LHS lane and motorists are not allowed to drive on that gravel surface. Signage will be in place during this period to ensure the safety of all.

All questions and recommendations must be directed to the Site Safety Officer, Stenly Zambezi, at 078 981 0566, stenly@gardenroute.gov.za.

Monde Stratu
Municipal Manager
54 York Street
PO Box 12
GEORGE
6530

Tel: 044 803 1300
Notice number: 128/2025

Click here to download the Official Notice

Update 12 – Gwaiing Road Construction Works, George

During the month of November, the Garden Route District Municipality (GRDM) Roads Layerworks Team commenced with the cement stabilization process of the second to last layer on the left hand side (LHS) lane. This process was done with the use of a specialized recycler machine, which processed the full length of the project on the LHS.

Due to the fact that the layer is stabilized with cement, it is currently in a curing phase where it is required to lay undisturbed for a period of time, in order to reach the optimal strength. Once the curing phase is completed and the test results have been received, the team will then begin with importing the material for the final layer, which is the basecourse layer. Source material is currently at a laboratory undergoing various tests, and once the results are received, the next phase of the construction will commence.

Although the Roads and Transport Planning Services Department will be closed from 12:00 on 12 December 2025 to 9 January 2026, the Department remains focused on the completion of the concrete lined side drains, as well as constructing concrete edge beams at all accesses along the road.

Completion date of the project still remains at 31st January 2026, with the progress standing at 92%.

ENDS

Update 11 – Gwaiing Road Construction Works, George

Upgrading of the Gwaiing Road between the R404 and the R102 remains the focus of the Garden Route District Municipality Roads Construction Team.

During the month of October, a triple seal has been completed in full on the right hand side (RHS) lane of the project, which brings the construction of the RHS to completion. Traffic has since been redirected to the completed RHS lane as the construction operations are now directed to the left hand side (LHS) lane. The next phase in construction on the LHS lane is the cement stabilisation of the subbase layer, which will commence at the beginning of November.

The concrete team remains focused on the completion of the concrete lined side-drains, as well as constructing of the concrete edge beams at all accesses along the road.

Completion date of the project still remains at 31st January 2026, with the progress standing at 87%.

ENDS

Update 10 – Gwaiing Road Construction Works, George

The upgrading of the Gwaiing Road between the R404 and the R102 remains the focus of the GRDM Road Construction Team.

The right hand side (RHS) lane has since been primed with a bituminous prime. The lane still remains closed to traffic as this is a preparation layer for the final seal.

Testing has been done on the surface of the primed layer, to finalise the application rates for the final seal. Once the design has been approved, the final seal will be placed on the lane. This operation will occur over a 4 day period with ideal weather conditions, after which the traffic will be shifted to the completed RHS. This will then allow for the continuation and completion of the construction of the left hand side lane.

The Concrete Section remains in the process of completing the concrete-lined side drains.

Completion date of the project still remains at 31 January 2026, with the progress standing at 85%.

ENDS

Media Release: Garden Route District Municipality Bids Farewell to a ‘Big One’

 11 September 2025

Colleagues from the Garden Route District Municipality’s (GRDM) mourn the passing of their beloved colleague, Mxolisi John Klaas, fondly known as Uncle John.  He sadly passed away on Sunday, 31 of August, at the Groote Schuur Hospital in Cape Town after a short illness.

Mxolisi John Klaas was born on 12 October 1965 in the small Eastern Cape town of Middelburg in the Great Karoo.  He would have celebrated his 60th birthday this coming October.

Uncle John joined the then Eden District Municipality (now GRDM) on 08 September 1997 as a General Operator, but due to his dedication and eagerness to learn, he ends up operating a wide variety of plants and machinery.

Since 2019, Uncle John worked under the Roads Services Workshop Section, reporting directly to Melissa Koen.

“It’s difficult to put into words what Uncle John meant to us, not just as a colleague, but as a person. No matter the changes around him, one thing never changed, his attitude. He was consistent, respectful, and deeply committed to his work. For 16 years, he drove the lowbed truck with a quiet sense of purpose, showing up day after day with a calm, steady presence that made him stand out in the best possible way,” said his direct supervisor, Melissa Koen.

Colleagues remember that even in the final weeks before he became severely ill, Uncle John continue to show up for work with dedication and commitment. He worked through discomfort, pain and even when it would have been more than understandable for him to step back. “That kind of dedication is rare. It wasn’t for recognition or praise, but it was simply who he was,” Koen said.

According to his colleagues, some of the outstanding characteristics of Mxolisi John Klaas were his steady nature, his calm and reserved demeanour and his ever-present warm smile. He never drew attention to himself, but you always noticed when he was there and even more so now that he is not around.

Uncle John leaves behind not just memories, but a lasting impression on those who had the privilege of working with him. He’ll be fondly missed not just for what he did, but for who he was.

He leaves behind his wife, Vuyiseka Veronica Klaas, 3 daughters and 2 grandchildren.

-END-

Update 9 – Gwaiing Road Construction Works, George

Upgrading of the Gwaiing road between the R404 and the R102 remains the focus of the GRDM Road Construction Team.

The final tests have been conducted on the material and Basecourse layer on the right hand side (RHS) lane, and the team is awaiting the final results and approval before the RHS lane can be completed in full. After approval has been granted to proceed with works on the RHS lane, the surface will be slushed, primed, and the final seal will be placed on the road.

Preparation works on the left hand side (LHS) lane has commenced in the interim, with the sub-grade layer being bladed. Material for the second to last layer (subbase) will be imported from next week, after which the processing of the cemented subbase layer on the LHS will be done.

All concrete structures have been completed in full, and the team is in the process of completing the concrete lined side drains.

Completion date of the project still remains at 31 January 2026.

ENDS