Temporary plans to relive delays at Kaaimans Pass

By Odette Ismail
04 September 2006


The Garden route rescue services have installed means to relief delays caused by the shutting down of the N2 between George and Wilderness. The Saasveld back road is closed for construction for a day and night.

Eden Disaster Manager, Gerhard Otto told the Cape Times that it will take roughly two weeks to fix the Kaaimans River Pass completely. So far traffic lights have been installed and is up and running.

Authorities are only allowing heavy rescue vehicles to cross the Kaaimans River Pass. Only one lane for light vehicles is reserved, this followed recent heavy flooding causing the outer edge to crumble.

The Eden municipality has set up a temporary satellite fire and rescue satellite fire and rescue station in the Wilderness

In Oudtshoorn a rescue helicopter was put on standby with an 18 minutes response. In Uniondale an active fire station received more staff and Knysna loaned an ambulance.

The NSRI commented that the road closure has slowed down the response time of its Wilderness volunteers who live in George by two hours.