Badfontein Road is not suitable as an alternative to Machadodorp and N4.

Heavy rain on the R36 to Badfontein just outside town led to it nearly becoming undrivable this past weekend. One of the nearby lodge owners said some vehicles and trucks were stuck in the mud on Friday and over the rest of the weekend. Motorists had to make use of the Rietfontein/Rustenburg secondary road as an alternative.

According to by-laws, trucks are not allowed to drive on secondary roads and were stuck on both shoulders of this one.

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“The Badfontein community is hopeful that the roadworks will have a positive outcome on the tourism business in 2023. Several trout farms and other holiday destinations, like the Kwena Dam, are in this area. A lot of people use this road to drive to Machadodorp,” said the lodge owner.

A steering committee was formed in 2021, which comprises of representatives from transport and mining companies, communities, local businesses, the Lydenburg/Mashishing Business Chamber, and the provincial government.

The committee has an ongoing maintenance programme, but the ongoing heavy usage and rainy weather have resulted in heavy deterioration of the recent repairs. Motorists are urged to take alternative routes or make use of the N4 toll route.