Department of Infrastructure statement

In a statement about the crash on the MR344 in which a motorcyclist died, the Western Cape Department of Infrastructure (DOI) noted:

There are no plans for the upgrading of MR344 by the DOI at current (medium term economic framework).

While, according to information shared with DOI, the crash occurred at the on-/offramp to the N2, the DOI wishes to respond to all intersections between the Monte Christo and Louis Fourie intersections.

Various developments were initiated in the area and there were conditions that went with the approval of those developments. As per the approval letter for the developments in the area, the following conditions were stated:

When warranted, Mossel Bay Municipality ensures that:

The existing Louis Fourie/ Main Road 344/Waboom Street intersection is upgraded with signal control; all the necessary ancillary improvements such as street lights, included.

The existing Louis Fourie Road/ Main Road 344/Waboom Street intersection is upgraded with a dedicated right turn lane along the Waboom Street approach.

The existing Main Road 344 / Monte Christo Access Road intersection is upgraded with signal control; all the necessary ancillary improvements, such as street lights, included.

The existing Main Road 344 / N2 On- and Off-ramp is upgraded with signal control; all the necessary ancillary improvements, such as street lights, included.

Mossel Bay Municipality ensures that sufficient funds are allocated / ring fenced to complete all the upgrades that are mentioned.

It is therefore clear that the responsibility is with the local municipality to ensure the implementation of the upgrades as and when needed.

This responsibility is in line with conditions on which developments in the area were approved.

It is important to note that it is not necessarily the local municipality’s responsibility to do the implementation as it is usually the developer that should implement the upgrades as it is usually part of the development conditions.

The DOI can confirm that the Mossel Bay Municipality applied for approval for the signalisation of the MR344/Louis Fourie/Waboom Street intersection but the traffic study indicated that this was not yet warranted.