Cape Town motorists can breathe a sigh of relief after authorities reopened the N1 in both directions following extensive damage to a pedestrian bridge over the weekend.
The City of Cape Town confirmed on Sunday night that FW de Klerk Boulevard was fully open to traffic entering and leaving the CBD, avoiding potentially severe delays during the morning rush.
Engineers worked through the night to secure the bridge after a truck struck the structure near Paarden Eiland, forcing authorities to close sections of the busy highway.
What happened on the N1?
A heavy articulated flatbed truck transporting a large industrial tank struck the underside of the Lower Church Street pedestrian bridge while travelling outbound.
The impact dislodged the truck’s load, causing it to topple onto the roadway.
HMVA (01:52)
— WC Live Traffic & Safety Reports (@WCLiveTraffic) October 11, 2026
N1 Outbound before Lower Church
Lane closures
Expect delays
Truck vs Fixed Object#WCLiveTraffic #WCLiveZello#Bosbeer2006 #LimaCharlie1 #SashTowing pic.twitter.com/35USAJ6Taq
According to the City, the incident damaged the bridge’s concrete structure, exposed reinforcing steel and left cracks along the underside of the deck.
Concrete debris also scattered across several outbound lanes.
Emergency services, firefighters and law enforcement officers responded to secure the scene while structural engineers assessed the damage.
The incident forced authorities to close affected sections of the N1 in both directions.
N1 reopens after overnight repairs
By Sunday night, motorists had been warned to prepare for severe delays on Monday as engineers raced to make the bridge safe.
However, crews managed to complete the preliminary repairs ahead of schedule.
Two heavy-duty cranes lifted and realigned a damaged 100-tonne section of the bridge, while workers cleared debris from the highway.
Mayoral Committee Member for Urban Mobility Rob Quintas confirmed that both directions had reopened.
“The N1 FW De Klerk Boulevard inbound and outbound into and out of the CBD is now fully open for the Monday morning commute,” Quintas said.
Although engineers have secured the structure and reopened the highway, further work remains.
“Job scoping for remedial and aesthetic repairs will begin this week,” Quintas said.