Public participation
Documents and information about current public participation processes can be accessed below.
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R44/N1 Interchange Upgrade

Public Participation
  • Status: Draft Basic Assessment Report
  • Reference Number:: 16/3/3/1/B4/23/1006/25
  • Authority: Department of Environmental Affairs and Development Planning
  • Date of notice: 2025-02-06
  • Closing date: 2025-03-10
  • Participation concluded: 2025-03-10

PROJECT BACKGROUND

Heineken Beverages South Africa (Pty) Ltd proposes the upgrade of the R44/N1 interchange located in Klapmuts, Western Cape. The project is proposed to accommodate the anticipated increase in traffic from the authorised developments to be constructed in Klapmuts North. 

SITE DESCRIPTION

The R44/N1 interchange falls within the Cape Winelands District Municipality, approximately 2km northeast of the town centre of Klapmuts and approximately 12km southwest of the town centre of Paarl. The N1 is the border between the Drakenstein Municipality, which is located north of the interchange (Ward 1) and the Stellenbosch Municipality which is located south of the interchange (Ward 18). The residential suburb of Rozenmeer is immediately south of the interchange. Affected properties include farm portions 100/0, 101/0, 1679, 2/1293, RE/31/716, 52/716, 37/716, 1/758, RE/1/759, 3/758, 3/759, 2/759, 101/0 and RE/1293. 

PROPOSAL

The proposed upgrade involves the construction of a double teardrop intersection. This consists of two at-grade roundabouts at the level of the R44, beneath the existing N1 viaduct. The roundabouts facilitate all on- and off-ramp movements without the need for signalisation. The road upgrades will also include pedestrian sidewalks. All off-ramps and on-ramps would be realigned and widened to accommodate the double teardrop design, as well as additional lanes on the N1 on- and off-ramps.

Stormwater infrastructure will also be upgraded. The existing box culvert located immediately south of the intersection under the R44 will be upgraded to a 3600mm x 2100mm box culvert, enclosing the entire open channel between the R44 and the N1. The new box culvert will tie into the existing Ø3100mm Armco pipe that runs beneath the N1 and conveys a tributary of the Klapmuts River, discharging at an instream dam on a farm immediately northwest of the intersection. The existing Armco pipe will also be extended northward by 6m.

APPLICABLE LEGISLATION

The proposed activities require environmental authorisation from the (Western Cape) Department of Environmental Affairs and Development Planning. The activities requiring environmental authorisation include those set out below, as listed in terms of the Environmental Impact Assessment Regulations, 2014 (as amended by GN 326 of 2017) and the National Environmental Management Act (Act No. 107 of 1998, NEMA):

  • Activity 19 of Listing Notice 1 (GNR 327 of 2017): The infilling or depositing of any material of more than 10 cubic metres into, or the dredging, excavation, removal, or moving of soil, sand, shells, shell grit, pebbles, or rock of more than 10 cubic metres from a watercourse.
  • Activity 48 of Listing Notice 1 (GNR 327 of 2017): The expansion of (i) infrastructure or structures where the physical footprint is expanded by 100 square metres or more where such expansion occurs (a) within a watercourse.
  • Activity 56 of Listing Notice 1 (GNR 327 of 2017): The widening of a road by more than 6 metres, or the lengthening of a road by more than 1 kilometre (i) where the existing reserve is wider than 13,5 metres.

Application will also be made to the Department of Water and Sanitation in terms of the National Water Act 36 of 1998 for Section 21(c) and (i) water uses. A Notice of Intent to Develop (NID) was also submitted to Heritage Western Cape in terms of Section 38(1) of the National Heritage Resources Act 25 of 1999.

OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE

The 30-day commenting period for the draft BAR commences on Thursday, 6 February 2025, ending on Monday, 10 March 2025.

Should you have any queries or concerns, you can contact the Environmental Assessment Practitioner, Jeremy Rose or Kaylyn Heinrich using the following options:

Proposed Upgrades of the R44/N1 Interchange in Klapmuts Western Cape

Please note that the commenting period has ended.