The Eastern Cape department of transport has announced that it will close the Langeni Mountain Pass between Ugie and Mthatha.
According to the department, the decision to close the 17km pass was taken after numerous messages were received from people warning of imminent danger.
Unathi Binqose, spokesperson for the department, said the concerns were endorsed by the department’s road engineers.
He added that the route will be closed as from Wednesday, saying drivers will be diverted to alternative routes.
He said: “Preliminary investigations indicate that the damage is partly due to the steep and mountainous topography where this road is constructed, over the Ncembu escarpment, as well as the heavy-duty trucks which are often fully loaded with logs and farm produce.
“This has resulted in the formation of transverse and longitudinal cracks and displacement, as well as sagging of the road.
“Climate-change induced floods that, over the years appear to have been eating away on the very ground the pillars of the pass are anchored in, have seemingly fast-tracked the damage on the road.”
Binqose further said the department has given inspectors a month to attend to the problem and find a quick solution.
“We know that this will be slightly costly to both businesses and motorists, however, we have to prioritized lives. They [the drivers] can use the R61 from Mthatha and go via Ngcobo,” he said.
Attempts to reach trucking and logistics companies that will be affected by the closure were not successful at the time of publishing.
Langeni pass is beautiful 🙏🏿 pic.twitter.com/EHeAeEgCUO
— Sonwabile Spayidile (@soso_spayi) December 7, 2021
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