LIMPOPO – Traffic congestion at the intersection of the R40 and R527 continues to frustrate Hoedspruit residents, with growing concerns about the impact of proposed infrastructure upgrades.

While some locals support Sanral’s plans to construct a major interchange, including a flyover bridge, others fear the development could erode Hoedspruit’s small-town charm.

The issue was thrust back into the spotlight last week when local resident Gary Whitecross posted images of heavy traffic on the popular Iewers in die Laeveld Facebook group. Speaking to the Herald, Whitecross explained that congestion is a recurring problem, especially between 06:45 and 07:30 in the morning, and again in the late afternoon when people are heading home.

“On May 14, a bulk carrier, too heavy to be on the road, disconnected and caused extreme congestion,” Whitecross said.

Plans to address the issue have been in motion since 2022, when Sanral proposed building a grade-separated interchange to alleviate the growing traffic pressure. An environmental compliance meeting was held in April last year to discuss the project.

Sanral appointed Delta Built Environment Consultants (DEC), under BVi Consulting Engineers, to manage the environmental aspects of the project and monitor compliance throughout construction.

Matthew Diederichs, chairperson of the Hoedspruit Chamber of Commerce (Sakekamer), acknowledged that traffic is a serious concern that needs to be addressed.

“Expanding the road will definitely help,” he said. “That said, from a safety perspective, it might be better to use that money to make existing roads two lanes, if legal and spatial constraints allow. My main concern with this large-scale development is that it could open the door to more commercial expansion, like the planned mall, and Hoedspruit could lose its unique character. We’re already seeing real estate prices comparable to Cape Town.”

According to planning documents seen by the Herald, the new R40 interchange will include a two-lane, single-carriageway road with both surfaced and gravel shoulders. Each lane will be 3.5m wide, with 2.5m shoulders, making for a total surfaced width of 12m.

The design includes a new rotary interchange at the R40/R527 junction, along with upgraded intersections and ramps to manage flow across the different routes.

The Herald reached out to Sanral spokesperson Lwando Mahlasela to inquire about the current status of the design and construction timeline. At the time of publication on Monday, May 19, no response had been received.