UPDATED TRAFFIC ADVISORY
N3 remains closed between Tugela Plaza and Harrismith

KwaZulu-Natal, 21 September 2024 – The N3 remains closed to traffic between Tugela Plaza and Harrismith while multi-disciplinary rescue and recovery teams are working full steam to help clear the area between Van Reenen’s Pass and Swinburne (Montrose) of stranded trucks and light motor vehicles, the South African National Roads Agency SOC Limited (SANRAL) and its concessionaire, the N3 Toll Concession (Pty) Ltd (N3TC), have announced.

Their efforts, however, are being hampered by road users attempting to circumvent road closure points and/or safety instructions.
“We know it has been a long, bitterly cold and tiring weekend, and we understand that you just want to be mobile again, but please work with the disaster management teams, not against them. When clear instructions are ignored or opposed, it puts an additional strain on resources and brings rescue efforts to a halt, negatively impacting on everyone,” explained Thania Dhoogra, Chief Operating Officer of N3TC.

Vusi Mona, SANRAL General Manager for Communications and Marketing echoed Dhoogra’s appeal for compliance.

“Until we get total compliance and patience from road users, so the many stranded vehicles, as well as the extensive backlog of traffic between KwaZulu-Natal and the Free State can cleared, cleanup and securing of the road cannot be completed and therefore full mobility cannot be restored,” said Mona.

All lanes in the vicinity of Van Reenen town towards the Swinburne/Montrose junction remain obstructed by a large number of gridlocked heavy- and light motor vehicles (some of which have been abandoned by their drivers or broken down).

Only light motor vehicles are currently being released southbound towards Tugela Plaza under escort of traffic officials. All trucks continue to be stacked in the area.

For regular, verified traffic updates follow @N3Route on X or contact the 24-hour N3 Helpline on 0800 63 43 57 for emergency assistance. Also follow updates from SANRAL via X and Facebook.

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Issued by FTI Consulting on behalf of the SANRAL. For editorial content or additional information contact Lwando Mahlasela on 082 440 5305 or pressoffice@nra.co.za