Photo: Supplied

LOOK: Huge sinkhole near N1 causing MAJOR traffic delays

Traffic on a busy stretch of the N1 has been at a near-standstill on Monday, after a sinkhole appeared near the highway.

by Tom Head

10-01-2022 10:12

in News

Photo: Supplied

The emergence of a new sinkhole near Centurion on the N1 has caused a traffic nightmare on Monday morning, after heavy rains opened up dangerous chasm at the R21 interchange. Geotechnical experts are now surveying the scene.

N1 traffic ‘bought to standstill’ due to sinkhole

The sinkhole had been reported earlier this weekend, after torrential rains ended up sweeping several cars away down the road in Tshwane. Officials have weighed up the risk to motorists, and were forced close a lane on the N1 South towards Pretoria.

However, this has since caused a set of long tailbacks for the morning rush hour…

Pretoria – N1 South: #SinkHole at the R21 Highway Interchange – QUEUING TRAFFIC pic.twitter.com/TB9LZlwaM0
— Rob Beezy (@TrafficSA) January 10, 2022

Pretoria – N1 South: #SinkHole at the R21 Interchange – SLOW TRAFFIC from Rigel Avenue pic.twitter.com/lsMFvK0DjL
— Rob Beezy (@TrafficSA) January 10, 2022

The problem with Centurion…

Centurion is heavily maligned for its terrible ability to manage rainfall. More often than most, the city finds itself underwater during any decent storm, with low-lying bridges and busy commuter routes flooding at frequent intervals throughout the year.

Indeed, the cause has not been helped by the large presence of dolomite in the ground here. When it gets soaked through, the earth begins to crack and break up, causing sinkholes to appear. Unfortunately, this latest incident couldn’t have placed itself more awkwardly.

Pictures taken over the past 48 hours highlight just how bad the issue is. Just a few metres away from the R21 interchange, a large part of the ground has simply disappeared. This poses a huge hazard to motorists, and experts are trying to decide what their next move should be.

LOOK: Sinkhole appears near N1 traffic

Pretoria – N1 South: #SinkHole beside the Highway near the R21 Interchange via @firstgroup_FRT pic.twitter.com/FKTw2MHjZJ
— Rob Beezy (@TrafficSA) January 9, 2022