Plans to rebuild sections of the N1 between Louis Trichardt and Musina have been put on hold while a contractual dispute is being investigated. This means motorists will have to endure the dangerous conditions posed by the often pothole-ridden road for a while longer.
Motorists who travel daily between Louis Trichardt and Musina have to navigate various badly eroded and uneven sections of the toll road. The rainy season over the past few months has worsened the situation, and cars damaged by potholes are a familiar sight on the road.
In 2023, the SA National Roads Agency Limited (SANRAL) announced that the N1 between Louis Trichardt and Musina would be upgraded at an estimated cost of R2.1 billion. The tender notices inviting bidders for the construction were scheduled to be published on 29 September 2023.
Vusi Mona, SANRAL's General Manager: Communications, responded to questions this week, saying that two improvement projects had been planned. The stretch of road between Louis Trichardt and Masekwaspoort, up to the Waterpoort (R523) turn-off, is currently under design.
The second project, which involves upgrading the N1 from Masekwaspoort north to a point about 20 kilometres south of Musina, is currently on hold. "This project was advertised and awarded in late 2024. Unfortunately, there is a legal challenge from one of the bidders, and the SANRAL Board has decided to suspend the project until all investigations are concluded," said Mona.
He added that SANRAL was continuing with routine road maintenance. Maintenance teams will repair failures such as potholes, which have appeared after the heavy rains that fell over the region in the past two months.