SANRAL has confirmed that engineering assessments conducted on Saturday and Sunday after the bus fire late Friday night inside the N1 Huguenot Tunnel indicate that the tunnel’s structural integrity remains sound.

However, several critical repairs are required before the tunnel may be safely reopened to traffic.

Independent structural inspections and follow-up technical assessments were completed late Sunday night.

The inspections further revealed that while the tunnel ceiling and roadway remain structurally sound, certain wall panels, cabling systems, and lighting infrastructure have been damaged beyond repair by the fire and heat exposure and will require replacement.

Key remedial actions currently underway include:

• Removal of all loose material on the road surface, walls and ceiling.
• Replacing several wall panel fittings.
• Repairing and testing sections of the fire detection, lighting systems and other operational infrastructure.

SANRAL’s Western Cape Provincial Head Randall Cable said teams are working around the clock to restore the tunnel to a safe operational condition.

“The safety of motorists remains our foremost priority, and we will reopen the tunnel once we are confident that we meet the minimum required standards for safe operation. We are also mindful that a closed tunnel results in significant inconvenience and safety concerns to road users on other alternative routes, hence we are working with speed.”

Additional resources and teams have been mobilised to accelerate the repairs, and more comprehensive repair works will be done during future controlled closures.

“A further update on progress and the anticipated reopening timeline will be provided once all final verifications are complete. At this stage we are optimistic looking at opening the tunnel within a week or slightly more, if all goes according to plan.”

Motorists are urged to plan their journeys accordingly, use alternate routes with caution and allow additional travel time due to anticipated congestion.

Alternative routes include:

• From Worcester to Cape Town – via Wolseley-Wellington-Paarl to N1
• From Cape Town to Worcester – via Paarl – Wolseley-Worcester
• The N2 can be accessed via Worcester and Villiersdorp
• Bainskloof Pass is open to light motor vehicles only
• R101 Du Toitkloof Pass is open with at least two stop/ go in place (expect delays)
• Heavy Motor Vehicles to avoid R46 (Touwsriver-Ceres-Gouda-Cape Town) due to 15 m length limit on Franschoek Pass

For real-time Huguenot Tunnel information, contact the Tunnel Control:
021 877 5400.

Saturday, 4 October: The South African National Roads Agency SOC Limited (SANRAL) would like to inform road users that the Huguenot Tunnel is currently closed to all traffic due to a bus fire that occurred inside the tunnel last night (Friday).

The incident happened around 23h30. Thankfully, no injuries have been reported except for one response tunnel official suffering from minor smoke inhalation. The official was treated on scene and has been taken to the hospital for observation.

“The bus wreckage has since been removed, but due to the damage caused to the tunnel infrastructure, the tunnel will remain closed until further notice for a full structural inspection. This is to ensure the integrity of the tunnel pertaining to concrete roadbed, side linings and ceiling. Other necessary infrastructure repairs will also be undertaken to fire detection equipment, lighting, communications, inside the tunnel,” said Mike Vinello-Lippert, SANRAL’s project manager.

“SANRAL thanks the tunnel operators and all emergency services that were activated and responded to the incident on time to prevent any injuries or casualties that may have occurred. Their response to the incident is highly commendable. We will inform the public once a better understanding of the damage and repair time is more evident,” added Vinello-Lippert.

Below is a list of possible alternative routes that road users can use. SANRAL advises road users to first ensure that these routes are open to traffic, and they must also allow additional travelling time due to the current conditions.

Alternatives: Bellville to/from Touwsriver:

Normal Travel Time through tunnel: 1h 45 min

• Via Du Toitskloof Pass: + 15 min (Open Intermittently due to construction)
• Via Villiersdorp/Stellenbosch: + 50 – 55 min
• Via Grabouw/Somerset West: + 50 – 55 min
• Via Bainskoof (light motor vehicles only): + 45 min
• Via Ceres/Tulbach/Wellington: + 45 min

Alternatives: Swellendam – Bellville:

Normal Travel Time through tunnel: 2h 22 min

• Via N2/Somerset West: + 15 min
• Via Franschhoek: + 35 min

Road users are advised to make use of alternate routes or to delay travel where possible. SANRAL apologises for the inconvenience and will keep the public updated on the tunnel operations.