Overgrown vegetation leads trucks astray

GEORGE NEWS - Overgrown vegetation is at the root of recent incidents where trucks got stuck on the two old bridges on the Seven Passes Road between George and Wilderness.

So says Basil Jacobs, farm manager of Wilderness Fruit, which is situated next to the Seven Passes Road near Hoekwil.

The owner of Kiewietsvlei, a vegetable farm next to Wilderness Fruit, says they have a lot of additional costs because they opted to transport their produce to George themselves.

"We use smaller trucks, under eight ton, and go down Whites Road in Wilderness," said David van Niekerk. "We have the same issue as Wilderness Fruit. However, our produce gets picked up in George, but it is an extra expense."

Stuck on a bridge

In November alone, two trucks experienced difficulties when they realised they couldn't cross the historical bridges on the Saasveld side (George) of the Seven Passes Road. Both trucks tried to reach Wilderness Fruits.

"The road they are supposed to take to reach us safely, is the Hoekwil Road. It will lead them all the way to the intersection with the Seven Passes Road, where they have to take a left turn. Wilderness Fruit is about 5km further, in the direction of George," said Jacobs. "The thing is, the vegetation is severely overgrown which makes it impossible for large trucks to drive through without harming their vehicles. The branches will continuously hit the windscreen, the overgrowth is so high and dense."

According to both Jacobs and the driver of the latest truck that got stuck in front of the historical Silver River Bridge on 15 November, the GPS yields a warning for the other alternative, Whites Road in Wilderness, indicating that it is not suitable for vehicles over eight ton.

This is why truck drivers search for alternative routes and the only other option is to approach the Seven Passes Road from George, passing by the NMU campus. However, they inevitably get stuck on one of the two historical bridges on the way. There is no signage warning that this road is impassable for large trucks.

The Hoekwil Road will lead trucks to the intersection with the Seven Passes Road, where they have to take a left turn. Wilderness Fruit is about 5km further, in the direction of George. Photo: Google Maps

Maintenance

Jacobs said he is in the process of getting quotes to have the trees on the stretch of road to Wilderness Fruit pruned. "We have no choice, we will have to make a plan," he said. The road is under the jurisdiction of the Provincial Department of Transport. George Herald hasn't received any feedback on enquiries regarding the matter by the time of going to press.

Communications officer of the WC Department of Transport, Jandré Bakker, said previously that a site visit to the Seven Passes Road and historical bridges was planned for November. No feedback on the proposed site visit has yet been received.

A truck from the Vredendal transport company, Royal Organics Transport, got stuck on the Seven Passes Road right before the Silver River Bridge on Tuesday evening, 15 November.