TRAFFIC ADVISORY
PROPOSED DIVERSIONS ON N3 BETWEEN DURBAN AND PIETERMARITZBURG

Pietermaritzburg, 28 June: The upgrade of the N3 between and Durban and Pietermaritzburg will achieve a major milestone in the coming weeks, when traffic will be diverted onto the newly constructed North-bound carriageway.

The diversion of the traffic will enable the upgrade of the existing Southbound carriageway. Motorists are advised to adhere to the posted speed limit of 80km/h due to restricted road widths and to exercise caution as they will not be driving on the final road surface.
The proposed dates of the diversions are:

The first of the planned diversions will be implemented on 19 June 2023 when the current North-bound traffic (traffic travelling in the direction of Pietermaritzburg) will be diverted at the Camperdown Interchange onto a part of the newly constructed carriageway.
On 29 June 2023, a further section of the newly constructed carriageway up to the Lynnfield Park Interchange will be opened for the Northbound traffic.

Approximately two weeks later, the Southbound traffic is anticipated to be diverted onto the new carriageway.
The implementation of the northbound cross-over past the Umlaas I/C will now result in access of the N3 at Umlaas Road being restored again. The VMS sign messages that indicate the Umlaas Rd I/C being closed, can then be removed as from 29 June 2023.
Motorists are advised to be on the lookout for more details in the media in the upcoming days.

The Ashburton Interchange is part of the larger N2 and N3 Upgrade Programmes, often referred to as the N2/N3 upgrades. The upgrades, when completed, will bolster the capacities of these economic arteries from Durban to the rest of South Africa and Africa in line with the ambitions set out in the SIP2 programme. The projects connect the Port of Durban, the largest port in Sub-Saharan Africa, to Gauteng, the largest economic hub in the country, and neighbouring countries in SADC region. The upgrades will resolve the chronic traffic congestion and reduce road carnage, thus providing higher mobility, increased safety and a reduction in overall travel time