Durban — The South African National Roads Agency SOC Limited (Sanral) has announced N3 upgrades and road closures for the last two weeks of August.
The roads agency announced the full closures of the N3 between St James Avenue/Harry Gwala Road Interchange and the EB Cloete Interchange for the demolition of the Rockdale Road Bridge over the N3.
These are the closures:
- Rockdale Road Bridge over the N3 will be closed from August 17 to the end of July 2025.
- N3, west-bound full closure from 6pm on Saturday, August 24, to 4am on Monday, August 26.
- N3, east-bound lane closure from 6pm, on Saturday, August 24, to 4am on Monday, August 26.
Sanral Eastern Region project manager said: “This major road network is and has been under severe stress for a number of years, as traffic volumes have exceeded the original design capacity of the EB Cloete Interchange and its feeder roads. The Rockdale Road Bridge was built in the late 1960s and cannot accommodate the extra lanes on the N3 below it.”
Lowe said the closures will allow for the demolition of the current Rockdale Road Bridge and to enable the construction of a new Rockdale Road Bridge over the N3 as part of Sanral’s major upgrade of the N3 east- and west-bound and the EB Cloete Interchange.
Traffic accommodation plans are in place for road users’ safety and the construction team.
Lowe advised trucks and heavy vehicles to try to delay trips over this period and/or find suitable staging areas over this time frame to avoid major congestion. Public transport operators are asked to ensure their drivers are aware of route closures and alternatives affecting their commuter routes.
He also advised light vehicle traffic, emergency services and traffic management to use alternative routes.
Additionally, he advised road users to plan their journeys ahead of time and where possible leave for their destinations earlier than usual.
“Sanral appeals to road users to note and comply with the advance warning signs and speed restrictions when travelling past the construction work zones. To prioritise the safety of both the construction workers and road users, the speed limit along the route will be reduced during construction,” said Lowe.
N3 east-bound road will be fully closed from 6pm on Saturday, August 24, to 4am Monday, August 26.
N3 east bound closures (Pinetown to Durban):
- N3 east-bound fully closed at St James Avenue/Harry Gwala Road Interchange – motorists can only off-ramp to Westville/Pavilion Shopping Centre.
- St James Avenue loop ramp is fully closed coming from the Pavilion going to Durban.
- St James Avenue left slip is fully closed coming from Westville going to Durban.
N3 west-bound road will be fully closed from 18:00 on Saturday, August 24, to 04:00 Monday, August 26.
N3 west bound closures (Durban to Pinetown):
- N3 west-bound fully closed at EB Cloete Interchange (AKA Spaghetti Junction) – motorists can only proceed to the N2 north or south.
- N2 north-bound off-ramp fully closed at Spaghetti Junction coming from Amanzimtoti going to Pinetown.
- N2 south-bound off-ramp fully closed at Spaghetti Junction coming from uMhlanga Rocks going to Pinetown.
Westville and Chesterville residents are to be advised of the following:
Rockdale Road Bridge over the N3 will be closed from August 17 to the end of July 2025.
- Alternate access will be via Bristol Road Bridge.
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