A section of the N3 highway in South Africa is set to close in both directions for 35 hours, affecting motorists travelling between Pietermaritzburg and Durban. The closure, which will begin at 6 pm on Saturday and continue until 5 am on Monday, will impact the stretch between the Cato Ridge and Hammarsdale interchanges. This shutdown is necessary to allow for the demolition of the Harrison East Bridge as part of the ongoing N3 upgrade project.
Both northbound and southbound traffic will be affected by the closure. Motorists travelling from Pietermaritzburg to Durban will be diverted off the N3 at the Cato Ridge interchange, then use the R103 (Old Main Road) and MR385 before rejoining the highway at the Hammarsdale interchange. Those travelling from Durban towards Pietermaritzburg will have to exit at Hammarsdale and follow MR385 and the R103 before rejoining the N3 at Cato Ridge.
The South African National Roads Agency (Sanral) has urged motorists to plan their journeys ahead of time and prepare for possible delays. The agency has also appealed to truck and heavy-vehicle operators to consider postponing their journeys during the closure, making use of suitable staging areas or alternative routes to limit congestion. Public transport operators have been urged to ensure their drivers are aware of the temporary traffic arrangements.
The closure will also affect the local crossing at Harrison East Bridge, which will remain closed during demolition and the subsequent construction work. Local motorists will have to use the designated alternative route via the D12 overpass. The demolition forms part of the broader N3 widening project, with the replacement of Harrison East Bridge expected to take approximately 24 months.
Sanral estimates that the new bridge will be ready to reopen in November 2028. The agency confirmed that the remainder of the EB Cloete Interchange would remain fully open to traffic. Motorists are advised to allow additional travelling time, follow temporary road signs and obey instructions from traffic officials during the closure.
Sanral’s KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Office road safety specialist engineer, Jason Lowe, said that the agency fully appreciates the disruption that road closures can cause. To reduce the impact, the time periods for these closures have been minimised, and they have been planned to take place over weekends to minimise weekday traffic disruption.
The N3 upgrade project is a significant development in South Africa's infrastructure. The project aims to improve road safety and reduce congestion on the highway. With the closure of the Harrison East Bridge, motorists are advised to plan ahead and follow the designated alternative routes to avoid delays.
Key points
- The N3 highway closure will affect both northbound and southbound traffic between Pietermaritzburg and Durban.
- The closure is necessary for the demolition of the Harrison East Bridge as part of the ongoing N3 upgrade project.
- The new Harrison East Bridge is expected to be ready to reopen in November 2028.
