MOSSEL BAY NEWS - The Louis Fourie Road upgrade project is still on track to finish in August 2026.
This according to the Western Cape Department of Infrastructure’s (DOI) director of operational support, Jandré Bakker.
One notable part of the project currently under way is the works at the Langeberg Mall intersection. The temporary slip lane towards Mossel Bay, for example, was closed on 23 February.
On 26 February road users experienced heavy traffic at the mall, with some Mossel Bay Advertiser readers claiming it took them between 40 minutes and two hours just to get out of the mall parking lot.
Following an enquiry to the DOI about the current situation at Langeberg, Bakker said the next full project update media release is scheduled for Tuesday 10 March and will contain the detailed status of the project and what construction activities are currently under way.
He did, however, briefly address the current situation at the mall.
A section of Louis Fourie Road in Mossel Bay with the Langeberg Mall in the background.
“The upgrade project has reached a stage where, unfortunately, additional inconvenience particularly at the Langeberg Mall entrance on Louis Fourie will be experienced by road users until the project completion date.”
According to Bakker, accommodating traffic at the Langeberg Mall intersection was always going to be one of the most critical pain points for road users because of the significant realignment work that has to be done here.
“One of the more notable reasons for inconvenience and delays at this intersection is the limited stacking space for turning lanes and the accommodation of both old and new sections of construction. We can confirm that the traffic signal configuration is at its most optimal for this stage of construction.
“Observations have, however, indicated that a large number of the delays are due to poor driver behaviour, which includes blocking of the intersection to gain an advantage over other motorists, which adds to the challenge.
“While road users can expect inconvenience till the project completion (once construction is complete, the final surfacing also has to be done), relief specifically at the Langeberg Mall intersection should be felt in the next two to three months as construction progresses.
“Once again we sincerely apologise for the delays to motorists during construction, however, we believe the light is clearly visible at the end of the tunnel,” said Bakker.
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