The South African National Roads Agency (Sanral) is set to begin an immense upgrade project on the national road N3 on 1 October 2023, between the Westville viaduct and the Paradise Valley Interchange, that is expected to cost R4.7 billion and extend over approximately 51 months.
Motorists travelling the 5.74km stretch of the N3 are therefore warned to expect delays and are urged to make use of alternative roads.
“We will endeavour to keep at least three lanes per direction open on the N3 route at all times, and on applicable ramps, at least one lane will be kept open,” said Andrew Ssekayita, Sanral’s Eastern Region Project Manager
“Traffic accommodation will commence immediately and will continue for the duration of the project. There will be contraflow for the construction of the bridge overpasses and there will be short road closures at night during demolitions with alternative routes available.”
A massive upgrade
The N3 construction project includes the provision of additional one and two lanes to create varying four to six-lane dual carriageways between the Westville viaduct and the Paradise Valley Interchange, plus auxiliary lanes where required, said Sanral.
There will also be enhancements made to Eden Road, Paradise Valley Interchange including the M13, and the Westville Interchange including Spine Road; as well as major bridge construction works including widening of the Westville and Paradise Valley Viaducts that are between 25 to 30m in height above both valleys.
In addition, other activities to be completed include:
- 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 that 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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