R797-million upgrade for one of South Africa’s national roads

The Western Cape government announced that it has made significant progress on the Van Schoorsdrift Road Safety Improvement Project, valued at R797 million.

The project aims to expand and maintain a section of the N7 north of Cape Town, including 5km of new road, and six bridge structures.

The province’s Department of Infrastructure explained that the project will also eliminate the at-grade intersections along the route to improve safety and traffic flow.

Construction on the site is scheduled to finish by March 2027, and work on several aspects of the project is already nearing completion.

The department said that 95% of the stormwater drainage works and 98% of kerb construction had been completed.

It has also made considerable progress on bridge structures and a new road alignment, and crews are busy installing new streetlights along the route.

While the project is expected to benefit motorists travelling along an important transport corridor, it has already delivered tangible economic benefits.

The department said that 324 work opportunities had been created, exceeding its original target of 280.

Additionally, the project has generated 83,102 person-days of employment, and R131.8 million has been spent on targeted enterprises to support local economic participation.

““Infrastructure investment must deliver more than roads and bridges,” said Provincial Minister of Infrastructure Tertius Simmers.

“It must improve safety, connect communities, create jobs and stimulate economic growth. We are demonstrating how infrastructure delivery translates into real economic opportunities.”

He said that the project remains on track for completion in March 2027, subject to favourable construction conditions.

“Every milestone brings us closer to a safer, more efficient N7 that will serve residents, businesses and future generations.”

Other road projects in the Western Cape

Last week, Mossel Bay announced that it had completed a R530-million upgrade to one of its main roads, which took four years.

The Louis Fourie Road (R102) has been transformed from a single to a dual carriageway with major intersection improvements, new bridges, and pedestrian infrastructure.

Simmers said that the project created jobs and contributed R133 million to local contractors and suppliers, including:

• R98 million to local suppliers.
• 325 work opportunities created
• R29.6 million paid in local labour wages.
• More than 60,000 person-days of work generated.
• R20 million to emerging CIDB Grade 3CE to 5CE contractors.
• R15.2 million to local Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB) Grade 1CE and 2CE contractors.

Meanwhile, work is underway on a R227.2 million upgrade to the N9 and N12 between George and Oudshoorn.

The project began in October 2025 and is set to wrap up by June 2028 if all goes according to plan.

According to the Department of Infrastructure, the road upgrades include:

• Widening the existing traffic lanes from 3.3m to 3.7m
• Protecting cut-and-fill slopes and establishing vegetation
• Improving the horizontal and vertical alignment of the road
• Installing new culverts and widening existing drainage structures
• Widening the road shoulders from 1.5m to 2m and surfacing them
• Installing concrete edge beams at accesses and minor intersections
• Replacing road signs, installing new guardrails and upgrading fencing
• Constructing a mechanically stabilised earth retaining wall approximately 800m long

Simmers said that these road projects represent opportunities for workers, local contractors and businesses to participate in building the infrastructure the province needs.

“Every infrastructure project must ultimately be measured not only by what we build, but also by the difference it makes in people’s lives.”

N7 Van Schoorsdrift Road Safety Improvement Project