The South African National Roads Agency (Sanral) has warned motorists to expect daily traffic disruptions on the N3 highway between Joburg and Durban for the next approximately two months.
As part of the rehabilitation of the R103, the agency will implement daily stop-and-go closures between Shortts Retreat Road and Market Road between the hours of 18h00 and 05h00.
These closures will remain in place from 11 April until 6 June 2024.
“These upgrades are undertaken as part of Sanral’s commitment to improve alternative routes to the N3 while it is under construction and as part of the N3 Upgrade Project from Gladys Manzi Road to New England Road Interchange,” said Jason Lowe, Sanral Eastern Region Project Manager.
“The contractor’s traffic accommodation team, with the support of the Road Traffic Inspectorate, will oversee traffic management activities throughout the project.”
During this period, there will be continuous safe access for residents, motorists, and workers to existing establishments in the vicinity.
Lowe notes that the advertised closures may be subject to change depending on elements such as weather conditions.
A 4-year upgrade
Sanral kicked off the N3 project between Westville Viaduct and Paradise Valley Interchange on 01 October 2023 with an estimated timeline of completion set at 51 months and budget at R4.7 billion.
The 5.74km patch of the freeway is earmarked to be upgraded from one or two lanes to varying four to six-lane dual carriageways, plus auxiliary lanes where required.
Other roads in the area such as Eden Road, the M13, and Spine Road will also be improved; and major bridge construction is scheduled to take place including widening of the Westville and Paradise Valley Viaducts.
Further activities to be completed comprise:
- Relocation of services affected by the capacity improvement
- Electrical works including the installation of street lighting along the entire section
- Erection of temporary road signs, Stop/Go signals, and other traffic control devices
- Provision of pedestrian walkways with concrete barriers and public transport facilities
- Construction of gravel pavement layers, including selected layers and stabilised subbase
- Construction of mass earthworks for pavement widening, bridge upgrades on affected interchanges, and drainage
- Construction and widening of new overpasses and bridge structures, consisting of Westville Viaduct, Langford Road Overpass, Lancaster Road Overpass, Dudley Road Overpass, St James Avenue Bridge, Eden Road Bridge, and Paradise Valley Viaduct.
During the construction period, areas that will be affected are Pinetown, Westville, Hillcrest, Kloof, Marrianhill, and Pavillion Mall, and it will impact all road users that travel to major destinations including the Durban Port and King Shaka International Airport, said Sanral.
These drivers may consider the M1, M5, M7, M10 M13, M19, and St James Avenue/Harry Gwala as alternative routes.
The roads agency also said it has embarked on an extensive communication plan to ensure that the public is fully aware of the N2/N3 upgrading and various other considerations to reduce travel time in the region over the next eight to 10 years.
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