After the sinkholes were detected shortly after 16:00 on 14 February, SANRAL announced on Wednesday that traffic would be interrupted on the route ‘for some time to come.’ The highway has been reduced to two lanes, and the R21 is currently facing some major structural issues:
- One sinkhole developed just outside of the road reserve fence boundary.
- The second one is immediately adjacent to the edge of the R21.
- Both sinkholes have an estimated depth of between five-to-six metres.
- Cracks have formed in the road surface, in the two outer lanes used for slower-moving traffic
- Both of the aforementioned lanes have now been shut down, and will be cordoned off ‘for the foreseeable future’
- SANRAL have asked drivers to consider using alternative routes, such as the M18 and M57, which run parallel to the west
of the R21.
According to SANRAL, it’s the northbound side of the road that has been hampered by these sinkholes. Those heading towards Pretoria have been encouraged to avoid the route if they can, during peak rush hour volumes. The road agency has apologised for the inconvenience, but it’ll be scant consolation for thousands of affected motorists.
“The South African National Road Agency SOC Ltd (SANRAL) would like to notify the public and road users of ongoing road closures due to a new sinkhole that formed along the R21 near Olifantsfontein.”
“Two sinkholes formed on Monday afternoon just before 16h00 along the R21 northbound carriageway towards Pretoria, just after the Olifantsfontein interchange at R21 section 2. SANRAL apologises for any inconvenience caused during this period and will continue to provide updates to road users as information becomes available.”
SANRAL statement