TRAFFIC ADVISORY

CONTRAFLOW TO BE APPLIED ON N3 FROM CATO RIDGE INTERCHANGE TO DARDANELLES

Pietermaritzburg – 29 September 2022 – The temporary widening of the entire section of the existing N3 Southbound is complete and all traffic can now be diverted onto the temporarily widened road between Cato Ridge Interchange and Camperdown Interchange, the South African National Roads Agency SOC Limited (SANRAL) has announced.

This forms part of the construction work on the upgrade of the N3 from the Cato Ridge Interchange to the southern end of the Dardanelles Cutting which began on 14 April 2021. This project is in the district municipality of uMgungundlovu and the local municipalities of eThekwini and Mkhambathini.

Traffic on the northbound (Pietermaritzburg bound) road will be diverted to the temporarily widened southbound (Durban bound) carriageway at Cato Ridge Interchange. The switchover shall be done in the evening of Wednesday, 5 October 2022.

“Contraflow conditions will exist on the southbound carriageway between Cato Ridge Interchange and Dardanelles with concrete barriers in place between the two opposite traffic streams. Two lanes shall be available in both directions. Contraflow is a temporary arrangement where traffic on a road is transferred from its usual side to share the other half of the carriageway with traffic moving in the opposite direction,” said Mohamed Parak, SANRAL’s Eastern Region Project Manager.

Once the traffic has been diverted off the northbound carriageway the existing northbound carriageway will be available for the total reconstruction of the new four-lane northbound carriageway. It is expected that contraflow conditions on the southbound carriageway shall prevail until January 2024.

The speed limit along the route has been reduced to 80km/hr to improve safety to the construction team and road users. Lane closures to allow construction vehicles from entering and exiting the work zone safely can be expected at night and the public will be informed in advance of such activity.

“We appeal to road users to note and comply with the advance warning signs and speed restrictions when travelling past the construction work zones. Motorists are encouraged to plan their trips accordingly and to make provision for the additional travel time,” said Parak.