New Traffic Diversion for Port Louis's Rue Monseigneur Leen from Monday

Urgent repair works on Rue Monseigneur Leen, one of Port Louis's key inner-city roads, have forced authorities to overhaul their traffic management plan after the initial diversion scheme caused significant gridlock across the capital.

The Cabinet of Ministers, which met on Friday 13 November 2026, was briefed on the progress of the works. Engineers are carrying out emergency repairs to both the road surface and a retaining wall running alongside Rue Monseigneur Leen. A retaining wall is a structure built to hold back earth or rock along a slope, and its failure can pose a serious safety risk to passing vehicles and pedestrians.

Because of the scale and urgency of the works, a section of the road remains closed to motor traffic. The Ministry of Land Transport had already put a temporary diversion in place, developed in consultation with relevant stakeholders. However, that initial plan quickly proved inadequate. Motorists and public transport users travelling into and around Port Louis reported heavy slowdowns and disruption over several days.

In response, the government has decided to revise the traffic strategy. A new and improved diversion plan will come into force from Monday 16 November 2026, with the aim of easing congestion in this strategically important part of the city centre.

Rue Monseigneur Leen is named after a Catholic bishop and runs through a central part of Port Louis, the capital and commercial heart of Mauritius. Roads in this area connect major administrative, business and transport hubs, so any prolonged disruption has a ripple effect across the wider city.

The authorities have urged commuters and drivers to allow extra time and to follow updated signage once the new diversion takes effect. Public transport users, including bus passengers, are also advised to check for any route adjustments that may affect their journeys.

What this means: If you drive or commute through central Port Louis, expect changed traffic patterns from Monday 16 November. The original detour routes have been scrapped in favour of a revised plan designed to reduce delays. Residents, taxi operators and bus commuters in and around the capital should follow official guidance from the Ministry of Land Transport for the most up-to-date diversion routes while works continue.

No completion date for the repairs has been officially announced. The Cabinet's decision to review the situation publicly signals that the government is treating this as a priority infrastructure matter.

Source: ION News