JHB to Clarens for the weekend - Roads !

[Nish]

Decided to spend the weekend in the Ebenhaezer area near Clarens for the weekend.

What was a total shock for us were the following roads that we used to get there and back.

Going there:

R57 at Clydesdale (between Sasolburg and Heilbron) - section of the road closed and shi%%y detour in the rain.
Near Heilbron and Petrus Steyn - some large potholes making trucks drive on the wrong side of the road.
R26 from Bethlehem to Fouriesburg - strips of tar missing with no way of avoiding the holes.

After experiencing the above roads we decided to take a different route home (big mistake):

R57 between Kestell and Reitz - the worst pot hole we have ever seen !
R26 between Reitz and Frankfort - sections o fthe road are missing and detours on both sides along most of this road.
R54 from the N3 to the Gauteng border before Vaal Marina - not the worst but still deep !!

What is going on in the Frees State with the roads ??
How are the local industries and farmers dealing with this sh*t ?

Next time we will take the N3 to Harrismith and on to Clarens.

Be careful out there guys we had some close calls on these roads.

 

[Dwerg]

Next time we will take the N3 to Harrismith and on to Clarence.

Should've asked. We go to Clarens regularly and this is now the only route we use. Well we turn off at Warden towards Bethlehem. There is still however roadworks even on the highway with lane restrictions.

R57 at Clydesdale (between Sasolburg and Heilbron) - section of the road closed and shi%%y detour in the rain.

This road is actually not too bad but yes the detour section isn't ideal

 

[TheHamster]

Have done the Clarens/Fouriesburg route a few times over the last few months. Just terrible, although on a bike it's easily negotiated.

Travelling further on after Fouriesburg is even worse, and you can see evidence of cars hitting the potholes and careening off the road completely.

The heavy rains the Free State had earlier this year certainly doesn't help.

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[petri oosthuizen]

Take the N3 Villiers/Warden, at Warden turn off  to Bethlehem.

 

[punisher]

yup , was down there for the long weekend , the roads are disgusting , a true reflection of the people in charge , sadly

 

[Nish]

Take the N3 Villiers/Warden, at Warden turn off  to Bethlehem.

Petri, now I know why you have a Unimog parked outside of your dealership !
Drove past there on Saturday.

 

[MegaPix]

Have done the Clarens/Fouriesburg route a few times over the last few months. Just terrible, although on a bike it's easily negotiated.

Travelling further on after Fouriesburg is even worse, and you can see evidence of cars hitting the potholes and careening off the road completely.

The heavy rains the Free State had earlier this year certainly doesn't help.

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So sad to hear.  When I was on that road with my bike in 2015 the road was beautiful

 

[Psycho Porra]

If you think those roads are bad, don’t drive the road between Marquard and Clocolan unless you riding your bike, worst road I have come across in a long time

 

[Mikie]

Seems the Free states really Aced their roads......  eepwall:

 

[roxenz]

To be fair, it isn't just the FS at fault here. Most of the roads mentioned were repaired/redone not so long ago (say about 10-15 years ago). The main culprits are the heavy trucks (especially chrome ore trucks) that are avoiding the toll roads and going via the minor roads. I see the same thing on the roads via Lephalale - Vaalwater and Lephalale-Thabazimbi-Brits (heavy trucks, including trucks from Copperbelt) - traffic has increased markedly from about 2016, and what were basically perfect roads are disintegrating rapidly.

I don't know what the answer is, since with the railways fooked by africanisation, road transport is the only option. One can think of putting a huge levy on heavy trucks, but that would feed through into higher living costs (and the chances of the levy being used for its intended purpose is non-existing). The guvmunt doesn't have money, and higher taxes to pay for new roads won't work in an already over-taxed country. Any ideas?

At least we shall have lots of whoopsy, muddy, adventurous roads for biking.

 

[Superboet]

Take the N3 Villiers/Warden, at Warden turn off  to Bethlehem.

Also used this one over the Easter weekend. Not bad. Take in consideration that it is almost R 250 in toll fees extra for the weekend.

 

[petri oosthuizen]

Take the N3 Villiers/Warden, at Warden turn off  to Bethlehem.

Also used this one over the Easter weekend. Not bad. Take in consideration that it is almost R 250 in toll fees extra for the weekend.

I must say, IF you drive something higher like a SUV/DC type car, that Reitz - Tweeling - Frankfort road is'nt THAT bad, and its quite a bit shorter than via Sasol and/or Warden. Well........"not that bad" being relative - we have SO many **** roads here nowadays, a piece of kak gravel almost classifies as "not that bad".

Pla my nogal - we're getting used to this kak.

 

[Roxtar]

We can thanks Ace for this....Free State will have most "adventure roads" in the country soon.... :lol8:

 

[Ride Alot]

I want to travel to Clarens in September so I know it is long from now but I assume a save road with heavy bike and passanger is Bloem / Bethlehem / Clarens?
I have done the Ladybrand to Clarens a few years back and have no intention to do that road again before they re-do it

tx

 

[petri oosthuizen]

I want to travel to Clarens in September so I know it is long from now but I assume a save road with heavy bike and passanger is Bloem / Bethlehem / Clarens?
I have done the Ladybrand to Clarens a few years back and have no intention to do that road again before they re-do it

tx

Ja BAIE mooi pad, Bloem - Winburg, turn off at Winburg to Senekal - Paul Roux - Bethlehem - Clarens. Clarens turnoff is just outside Bethlehem.

Dont go the Ladybrand route.......especially from Ficksburg to Bethlehem

 

[CycleC]

I am glad I came across this thread, as people don't believe us when we tell them about the roads in the FS, They think we are exaggerating. Living in Ladybrand we are right in the heart of the Sh%t. From travelling to JHB 20 x per year I am down to 5 or 6. The road are simply a disgrace and worst part is no one gives a damn. The only roads that are ok are from Marquard to Winburg, The N5 and the Bloem N8 Road, every single other road is finished. Had to sell my wifes car and get a SUV as there is no way a car drives those roads without some sort of damage. Clarens/ Golden gate used to be a 1.5 hr drive for us now its 2.5 due to the road conditions, What a disgrace and sad state of affairs.

 

[petri oosthuizen]

I travel relatively often, here is an update on Roads from Bethlehem in the various directions I usually drive:

1) The Fouriesburg/Ficksburg road is better now, travelled that yesterday with a fully laden Patrol and boat behind me on the way back from Katse. Not perfect but MUCH better than a month or 2 ago.

2) Bethlehem to GP (East) - I the Reitz - WARDEN road is still the best, although lots of extentions etc etc. BE VERY AWAKE at that 4 way stop en route to Warden from Bethlehem, VERY dangerous junction.

3) Fastest from Bethlehem to go is still via Reitz/Tweeling/Frankfort/Villers BUT there will some gravel detours arpund 3 months back, I'm not sure what they look like now

4) Bethlehem to GP West is still Reitz - Petrus Steyn - Heilbron - Sasol, that road near Sasol is finished now and VERY NICE tar all the way. Did that last week. This is the best road to travel now - by far (including that Warden option in (1) above)

Hope this is of help to someone :thumleft:

 

[Nish]

We are off to Clarence this weekend. Looks like a bit of rain for Saturday and Sunday morning !
How are the roads looking Petri ?
Is warden still the best route to go ?

 

[Nish]

Feedback on the roads from our weekend in the Clarens area.

The Warden road R714 is also full of potholes ! Cant do this road at night..
The R712 between Bethlehem and Clarens is starting to get bad.
The R712 in the Golden Gate Highlands National park has some nice big pot holes as well now.
The R712 from the park to Harrismith is still good
Lots of roadworks on the N3

Surprise for the weekend was the R54 from Villiers to 3 rivers. Lots of fixed potholes on the FS side and the repairs on the Gauteng side are perfect !

Sadly we will not be visiting the area any time soon, with the added distance and till fees this is not an enjoyable/affordable weekend away any more.

 

[petri oosthuizen]

See Point (4), Post 16.

If you have a high clearance (gravel) Car, then go Number (3).