Motorists travelling between Louis Trichardt and Musina are set to face delays on Thursday morning, as the N1 will be temporarily closed to allow for the recovery of a bus involved in an accident.
The Limpopo Department of Transport and Community Safety said the closure will take place on Thursday, 23 April, from 08:00 for about four hours. The affected stretch is between the Witvlag turn-off and the Hendrik Verwoerd Tunnels, near Ingwe Motel.
The operation follows a crash involving a Zimbabwean bus earlier this week. Recovery efforts were delayed due to persistent rainfall and the heavy load carried by the vehicle, forcing authorities to postpone the operation.
“The service provider was unable to recover the bus earlier due to the conditions. Arrangements have now been made to offload the goods before recovery can proceed,” the department said.
Motorists have been advised to use alternative routes. Those travelling from Louis Trichardt should turn right at the Witvlag junction onto the R523 towards Siloam and rejoin the N1 near Wylliespoort. Travellers from Musina are urged to use the same route in reverse, turning left at the Siloam turn-off just before the Hendrik Verwoerd Tunnels and rejoining the N1 at Witvlag.
Traffic officers and law enforcement personnel will be deployed to manage traffic flow and ensure safety during the closure.
Authorities have urged motorists to exercise caution, comply with road regulations and allow extra travel time.
Further updates are expected as recovery operations continue.