Motorists travelling between Oudtshoorn and George are urged to plan their journeys carefully as scheduled blasting operations on the N9 will result in temporary road closures of up to three hours.
As part of the ongoing upgrade and construction activities on the N9 between Oudtshoorn and George, blasting operations to remove excess rock are scheduled to commence on Wednesday 18 March 2026.
During these operations, traffic will be completely halted from 14:00 until 17:00 to ensure the safe detonation of rock and the removal of loose material before the road is reopened.
Traffic will be stopped at three designated control points along the route to prevent vehicles from entering the blasting zone while work is underway.
Authorities have indicated that six full closures are anticipated between the start of the blasting programme and the end of May 2026.
“Plan your trips to George with extra time in mind.”
Warning signs will be placed alongside the N9 near Oudtshoorn, Uniondale and George to inform motorists of the scheduled closures.
These signs will be installed ahead of the blasting operations to provide early notice to road users travelling between the Karoo and the Garden Route.
Motorists are therefore advised to avoid travelling during the closure window where possible or to plan ahead and expect delays of up to three hours.
Officials emphasise that the temporary closures are necessary to ensure the safety of both road users and construction workers during the blasting process.
The closures form part of the Western Cape Government’s R203-million upgrade of the N9 between Oudtshoorn and George, which aims to improve road safety and driving conditions along the busy route through the Outeniqua Mountains.
The project includes widening lanes, upgrading drainage systems and strengthening sections of the road to better accommodate increasing traffic volumes.
Ongoing construction and stop-and-go traffic
Outside the blasting periods, traffic on the N9 will continue to move through construction zones under 24-hour stop-and-go control, which may result in wai-ting times of up to about 20 minutes.
The project involves the strengthening and reconstruction of several sections of the road, widening lanes from 3,3 metres to 3,7 metres, adding surfaced shoulders and installing improved safety features such as guardrails and updated road signage.
Long-term project
The upgrade project, which began in October 2025, is expected to continue until around mid-2028, depending on construction progress and other factors.
Authorities emphasise that while the road will remain open for most of the day, motorists should treat the area as an active construction zone, adhere to temporary road signage and allow extra travel time.
For daily commuters, freight transport operators and tourists travelling between the Karoo and the Garden Route, the scheduled afternoon blasting closures are expected to be the most significant disruption during this phase of the project. (ANGELIQUE ERASMUS)
For more information, the following contacts are available:
Zutari (Engineer’s Representative): 071 863 5420.
Roadmac Surfacing Cape: 082 748 2115.
Traffic Safety Officer: 083 778 7075.