MEDIA ALERT

N3 KEY RIDGE TO HAMMARSDALE INTERCHANGE UPGRADE: N3 SOUTHBOUND CARRIAGEWAY SHIFT TO CONTRAFLOW

Durban, 22 April 2026 – The South African National Roads Agency SOC Limited (SANRAL) wishes to advise motorists of an extended closure of the N3 Southbound Carriageway between the Hammarsdale Interchange and the N3/M13 Interchange at Key Ridge.

“Realignment of the N3 between the Hammarsdale Interchange and Key Ridge requires that existing Durban-bound traffic be switched onto the widened Northbound Carriageway in a contraflow direction. This is necessary to facilitate the construction works of the new Southbound Carriageway as part of the N3 Upgrade Project. The Southbound direction will have two lanes from the Hammarsdale Interchange to the Sterkspruit Bridge, increasing to three lanes thereafter. The Northbound direction will have three lanes operational throughout the project limits,” said Sanchia Rajkumar, SANRAL’s Project Manager.

No significant impacts are expected for road users in terms of trip routing or navigational decisions while traversing the project site.

The shift of the existing N3 Southbound Carriageway will take effect between the 23rd and 26th of April 2026 and will be in place for approximately two years when traffic will be shifted back onto the newly constructed Southbound (Durban-bound) carriageway.

“Our traffic accommodation team, with the assistance of the Road Traffic Inspectorate (RTI), will manage and monitor the switchover of traffic to ensure a smooth transition. We advise motorists that reduced speeds will be enforced through the work zone and urge road users to exercise caution, whilst adhering to the speed limits,” said Rajkumar.

Major Project Milestones

The diversion of the traffic onto the widened northbound carriageway to contraflow traffic flow is a major milestone since the Commencement of the project in May 2023. This will result in substantial increase in construction activities which will be unhindered by the existing traffic.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Figure 1 – Overview of New Traffic Flow Configuration

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Figure 2 – Traffic Crossovers and New Lane Configuration