The almost R1-billion project will result in a 14-metre wide, safer dual–carriage highway, which will enable the key arterial road to cope with increased traffic volumes.   

The upgrading of a 33km stretch of the N2 between Mtunzini toll plaza and the Empangeni T-junction on the KwaZulu-Natal North Coast, which has been the scene of several fatal crashes, is nearing completion.  

The almost R1-billion project will result in a 14-metre wide, safer dual–carriage highway, which will enable the key arterial road to cope with increased traffic volumes.  

The upgrade of this section of the N2 commenced in March 2016.  

Technical challenges were encountered with the installation of up to 35–metre deep piles required for the construction of two major new bridges over the uMhlatuze and uMhlalazi rivers.  

The Project 

When the project is complete, four agricultural overpasses over the N2 would have been lengthened, new bridges would have been built at the R34 Empangeni/Richards Bay interchange and at the P537 Port Dunford underpass, two road-over-rail bridges would have been constructed, and 16 major box culverts and numerous minor box culverts and other drainage structures would also have been built.  

In addition, the height of two overpasses would have been increased by jacking up the bridges. 

This stretch of the N2 is on a declared toll road and, therefore, the income generated from the toll plazas on the N2 north will be utilised for funding this project.  

Corné Roux, SANRAL Eastern Region Project Manager, said due to the growth in traffic, the current lane configuration became inadequate, resulting in delays experienced by the travelling public.  

He said current traffic volumes on the N2 south of Empangeni exceeded 12?000 vehicles per day, with the highest traffic volumes occurring on the section between the eSikhawini and Empangeni interchanges.