The South African National Roads Agency (SANRAL) is set to open tenders for a ZAR4.5bn ($250m) upgrade to the Huguenot Tunnel, situated near Cape Town, South Africa.
Construction on this project along the N1 national road is anticipated to commence in the first half of 2025.
The project seeks to expand and enhance the 3.9km toll tunnel, Africa’s longest road tunnel, which has been operational for 36 years. The Huguenot Tunnel is said to have seen over 125 million vehicles pass through to date.
It serves as a critical link between Cape Town and the northern regions of South Africa.
The Huguenot Tunnel passes through the Du Toit’s Kloof Mountains approximately 80km outside Cape Town.
South Africa’s Transport Minister Barbara Creecy said that the tunnel is important in facilitating the movement of goods and people, while emphasising the economic benefits the upgrade will bring to the Western Cape.
Creecy noted the tunnel’s current limitations, with traffic restricted to one lane each way and an average of 13,000 vehicles passing daily, increasing to 25,000 during peak holiday periods.
The new section will add two lanes in each direction, reducing congestion and improving transport efficiency.
Creecy said: “Clearly, this stretch of the N1 is really important because it connects the ports of Cape Town and Saldanha to the hinterland. This is a very significant agricultural region but there’s also traffic coming from the north of the region and country as well.
“Once the upgrade of the tunnel has been completed in three to four years from now, we will have two lanes carrying traffic in each direction, which will significantly reduce congestion.”
SANRAL CEO Reginald Demana confirmed the construction will include critical upgrades to ventilation and electrical systems in line with modern safety requirements. Initial works have started but full electrical upgrades will proceed once the North Bore, the new section, is completed.
Demana said: “The South Bore of the Huguenot Tunnel was built in the 1980s, so it requires a significant safety upgrade in relation to electricity supply and ventilation.
“Some of that work has been able to happen over the last couple of years but the electricity supply can only be significantly upgraded once we move all the traffic to the new section of the tunnel, the North Bore, which will be constructed over the next few years.”
In 2021, consulting engineering firm SMEC South Africa was appointed by SANRAL to oversee design, procurement, and construction supervision for the project. SMEC South Africa’s scope includes both the preliminary and detailed design stages, procurement, and management of construction operations.
This infrastructure initiative aligns with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa’s broader investment strategy to stimulate economic growth and job creation. Creecy noted that the project will create substantial employment and contracting opportunities, supporting government objectives for inclusive growth and poverty reduction.
