The picturesque mountain pass of Chapman’s Peak, sporting some of the finest views in the Cape, has been closed indefinitely following rockfalls.
Not even the multi-million rand restoration scheme applied to the pass, which took place several years ago, could save the beloved route this time. The series of cold fronts and heavy rainfall which rolled into the Cape earlier this month has left the stretch between Hout Bay and Noordhoek unusable, with approximately 15 m3 of rock coming down on the Noordhoek end, causing damage to both catchment fences and the road surface.
Chapman’s Peak Drive closed indefinitely https://t.co/szJ7bx5FqD @WCGovTPW @WCGovSafelyHome #ArriveAlive pic.twitter.com/muc2f8I53A
— Arrive Alive (@_ArriveAlive) June 19, 2017
Aside from potential rockfalls from heavy rain and high winds, there is a risk of mudslides too, so the decision has been taken to close Chapman’s Peak until a remedial plan is put into place – some engineers predict that this process could take 3-4 weeks. For the interim, it has been confirmed that the pass is closed indefinitely.
We’ll follow up on the progress of the reopening of Chappies when more information becomes available.
Photography Arrive Alive