The South African National Roads Agency (Sanral) has announced the commencement of a significant R1.9 billion project. This project involves the construction of new roads and the renovation of busiest highways specific part of the N3 highway, south africa and it will start this month.
Drivers on Section 3 of the N3, from Gladys Manzi Road to the New England Road Interchange, should be prepared for traffic disruptions, as the construction group has cautioned. The ongoing work covers a 5.9km stretch from Gladys Manzi Road to the 9.0km section leading to the New England Road Interchange. This project aims to enhance the N3’s current layout, increasing the number of lanes from two northbound and three southbound lanes to four northbound and five southbound lanes on each side of the road.
Sanral recently began a three-month mobilization period, involving community interactions and planning for business involvement, which concluded on September 19, 2023.
According to Hugh Brooks, the Eastern Region Project Manager at Sanral, the construction will significantly affect traffic. However, they aim to maintain a four-lane road shared by both northbound and southbound traffic within the project area. Once traffic control measures are in place, there will be minimal disruption, and they will maintain a two-lane traffic flow in each direction on the N3.
Completion date for The Renovation of N3 Highway
Maintenance work on the N3 itself is scheduled to begin in early January 2024 and will be completed by December 2024. Traffic management will start immediately and continue throughout the project. In the event of major incidents within the construction zone, traffic will be safely diverted onto alternative routes. They urge road users to heed advance warning signs and adhere to speed restrictions when passing through construction zones.
To ensure the safety of construction workers and road users, speed limits will be reduced to 40km/h for heavy vehicles and 60km/h for light vehicles during construction. Motorists are encouraged to plan their journeys accordingly and allow for extra travel time.
Completion Date for Renovation of Other Highways in South Africa
Starting from November 2023 and continuing until July 2026, patching, milling, and asphalt overlays will be carried out on the alternative routes, and Stop/Go restrictions will be enforced.
Sanral has identified several areas that will be affected by the construction, including Hayfields, Scottsville, Mkondeni, Epworth, The Meadows, Cleland, and Bellevue. The construction will also have an impact on all motorists traveling to key destinations from Pietermaritzburg, such as the Durban Port, Pietermaritzburg Airport, and King Shaka International Airport.
The early phases of the construction project involve significant maintenance work on the N3 and the alternative routes, as well as work within the greenfield sections.
Sanral extends its apologies to all drivers and road users for any inconvenience resulting from the essential upgrades and realignment. The agency places the utmost importance on the safety and security of all road users and is committed to minimizing disruptions to a manageable level, as stated by Brooks.
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