TRAFFIC ADVISORY 

N3 closure to facilitate blasting between Ashburton and Market Road

Pietermaritzburg, 24 August 2024 – Part of the N3 will be fully closed on 29 August 2024 between 14h30 and 15h00 to facilitate blasting next to the existing Ashburton Overpass Bridge, the South African National Roads Agency SOC Limited (SANRAL) has announced.

“The N3 closure will take place between the Ashburton and Market Road Interchanges. Closures will also be necessary on Pope Ellis Drive from R103 intersection Interchange, which is in the vicinity of the blasting activities,” said Jason Lowe, SANRAL’s Eastern Region Project Manager.

Traffic accommodation team, with the assistance of the Road Traffic Inspectorate (RTI), will monitor the diversion of traffic during the closure.

The full road closure will take place as follows:

29 August 2024 (Thursday):
14h30:                Close N3 and secondary road and blast.
14h30 to 14h55: Clean up any debris on all roads.
14h55 to 15h00: Final Road Safety Inspection
15h00:                Re-open N3 and secondary road for all vehicles.

The R103 will be available as an alternative route during the blast. Substantial delays are, however, likely as the R103 is unable to handle the same volume of traffic as the N3.

The closure may need to be adjusted depending on weather conditions on the day. If that happens, a second notice with information of the new time will be issued.

“We ask motorists to be patient during the closure and to plan and adjust their trips, especially their leaving times, to accommodate the closure while still adhering to speed limits. SANRAL apologies to the motoring public for any inconvenience caused and thanks them for their patience during the ongoing road construction,” said Lowe.

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