R1.9-billion, 44-month upgrade begins on major South African highway

Major construction and upgrading have begun on Section 3 of the N3 highway between Gladys Manzi Road and the New England Road Interchange in KwaZulu-Natal.

The project is expected to continue for the next 44 months, putting its end date at approximately July 2027, and will cost in the region of R1.91 billion, according to the South African National Roads Agency (Sanral).

Construction on the 3.1km section of road will entail the upgrading of the existing cross-section of the N3 from two northbound and three southbound lanes, to four northbound and five southbound lanes per carriageway. This will result in an average increase in surfaced width from 10.4m per carriageway to widths of between 17.4m and 21.1m per carriageway.

In addition, several existing bridges will be demolished and new bridges built, with eight of these fixtures included in the construction.

Various provincial roads that will be used as alternative routes will be patched and repaired as they are expected to see an influx of traffic over the next 44 months, and several interchanges are being redesigned to better accommodate the flow of traffic.

Stormwater infrastructure, guardrails, road sign gantries, road signs, road markings, road studs, median barriers, stock-proof, and security fencing will also be upgraded.

Traffic accommodation is already in place across the entire construction zone and will commence for the duration of the project. To prioritise the safety of both construction workers and road users, the speed limit along the route will be reduced to 40km/h for heavy vehicles and 60km/h for light motor vehicles.

Locality map of N3 upgrade

A phased approach

In order to have as little impact as possible on motorists during the construction period, Sanral has divided the project into three phases.

Phase 1: Roadworks and structures

• N3 Section 3 7.3km – 8.9km both northbound and southbound, including widening of N3 southbound slow lane, northbound slow lane, and median
• New link road from Market Road 1.18km – 1.68km to Cleland Road east of interchange
• Market Road CBD to Alan Paton Drive
• Upgrading of Market Road west of N3
• Upgrading of Cleland Road from Murray Road to Mkondeni Spruit
• Upgrading of Gladys Manzi/Murray Road including bridge approaches
• Maintenance work on Washington Road
• New Market Bridge 6.752km on N3
• Widening of Market Road rail bridge
• Market Road bridge over Cleland Road
• Cleland Road culvert demolition and construction 0.700km
• Extension of existing culvert under Market Road Interchange Ramp A
• Murray Road Overpass (Gladys Manzi Bridge)
• Epworth Underpass bridge and IC culvert extensions
• Blackburrow Bridge over N3

Phase 2: Roadworks

• N3 Section 3 5.9km – 8.6km SBC widening, including median and fast lanes
• N3 Section 3 5.9km – 8.6km NBC widening, including median and fast lanes
• Upgrading of Washington Road
• Upgrading of Blackburrow Road

Phase 3: Finishing

• Electrical works, gantries, and landscaping.

Initial stages of construction will consist of major maintenance work along the N3 and the alternative routes, as well as work within the greenfield sections. The patching, milling, and asphalt overlays on the alternative routes will commence from November 2023 until July 2026, and Stop/Go restrictions will be in place.

The maintenance work on the N3 will commence in early January 2024 and conclude in December 2024.