Sanral partially closes N3 from Lynnfield Park to Ashburton ahead of public holiday

Pietermaritzburg – The South African National Roads Agency (Sanral) has advised motorists on the N3 highway of a planned partial road closure owing to construction.

The agency is undertaking major road upgrades between Camperdown and Hilton as part of the multibillion-rand upgrade of the N3 that links the economic hubs of Johannesburg and Durban. The ugrades will save motorists and the freight industry 6 300 hours a day.

Backed-up traffic on the N3, just before the Pavilion, after a truck accident. | Doctor Ngcobo African News Agency (ANA)

Ahead of the public holiday (Youth Day) Sanral has informed road users that the section of the N3 national road between Lynnfield Park and Ashburton in Pietermaritzburg will be partially closed between 7pm on Wednesday, June 16, and 5am on Thursday, June 16.

The N3 interchange has been designed to be upgraded in phases. This is the image of the of the ultimate Interchange layout as designed. These renderings are of the final layout, of which the two fly-over ramps will be constructed, as per traffic demand. Graphic: Supplied.

Traffic will be reduced to one lane, said Jason Lowe, Sanral Eastern Region’s Project Manager.

“The partial closure will be done because of milling and replacement of the road surface upgrade on this section of the road,” he said.

With the addition of two extra lanes and in some areas 3 extra lanes per direction, the number of incidents on the N3 between Durban and Pietermaritzburg and the effect the traffic as a result of an incident, should be greatly reduced Sanral says.

“We appeal to road users to reduce their speed to 60kp/h as indicated on the construction site. Accordingly, motorists can expect delays up to approximately one hour,” Lowe said.

He apologised to road users for the inconvenience caused.

SUNDAY TRIBUNE