The Western Cape Department of Infrastructure (DOI) is pleased to announce that good progress is being made on the new Van Schoorsdrift Interchange approximately 4.5km north of the Potsdam Interchange on the N7. This is part of a broader project to upgrade about 10km of the N7 to freeway standards.
A new 5km road (MR244) will be built to link Vissershok Road (OP72) with a future road to be called Berkshire Boulevard (OP72) from a point just west of the Malanshoogte Road/ Contermanskloof Road. This will require the construction of five new bridges, including the Van Schoorsdrift Interchange bridge over the N7 currently under construction and a bridge over the Diep River.
“This 36-month project, which started in March 2024 and comes at a cost of over R780 million, entails the construction of a single carriageway road, approximately 5km in length, with a narrow diamond interchange on the N7, a bridge over the Diep River, and an additional four bridges to accommodate the safe movement of crossing traffic,” said Jandré Bakker, DOI Director: Operational Support.
“The project is still on track to be completed by the end of the first quarter of 2027 with expenditure at and progress currently at between 49 and 50%,” he continued. “The new link will form part of a high order road between the West Coast and Durbanville. The existing weighbridge facility will be relocated further north to provide a safe weaving distance between the new interchange N7 northbound on-ramp and the off-ramp to the weighbridge,” Bakker added.
“The specific objective of this project is to improve the safety of road users by upgrading this part of the N7 to freeway standards,” said Provincial Minister Tertuis Simmers. “This requires the closure of five at-grade intersections on the N7 between Potsdam Interchange and Melkbos Interchange. This is the only section of the N7 between Goodwood and Malmesbury that does not currently comply with freeway standards,” the Minister said.
Van Schoorsdrif Road/ Old Malmesbury Road (DR1111) will be realigned for access to Vissershok Road. Four of the new bridges will link farmlands and City of Cape Town land which are bisected by the realigned Vissershok and Van Schoorsdrif Roads. Streetlighting will be installed on the interchange bridge and along the N7 from Potsdam Interchange to Melkbos Interchange.
“This project is set to create 280 work opportunities of which we have already achieved 251. Other contract participation goals we set include 24 local enterprises of which we already achieved 15, and 10 emerging contractors of which 4 are already involved,” the Minister continued.
As with all construction projects, there will be some inconvenience to road users who have already felt it with the closure of the Vissershok road connection to the N7, but this large capital investment will bring long-term benefits for the development of the Western Cape,” concluded Provincial Minister Simmers.
The five at-grade intersections on the N7 to be closed for the upgrade to freeway standards are:
- Vissershok Road (OP111) which has been closed and de-proclaimed.
- Klein Vissershok Road (OP89).
- Frankdale Road (OP47), which provides access to the City of Cape Town landfill site.
- Van Schoorsdrif access to the Old Malmesbury Road (DR1111).
- Morningstar Road (MR215).
Traffic signals will be installed at the intersections at the ramp terminals on the Van Schoorsdrift Interchange bridge to facilitate safe entry and exit from the N7.
The relocated weighbridge facility will include the installation of weigh-in-motion facilities in both the northbound and southbound directions of the N7.
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