The South African National Roads Agency SOC Ltd (SANRAL) has announced the start of the much-anticipated upgrades of the National Route 3 (N3).

This will involve the upgrade of the N3 between the Dardanelles interchange and the Lynnfield Park interchange situated between Cato Ridge and Pietermaritzburg.

During the next 42-month construction period, the existing 4-lane dual carriageway road will be upgraded to an 8-lane dual carriageway by widening to the median and outer shoulders. The existing Dardanelles interchange will also be upgraded to improve traffic flow.

The construction will be result in an investment of R1.48 billion in this section of the highway and create an estimated 700 employment opportunities. The upgrade is a part of the government’s strategy to use Infrastructure delivery to kickstart the economy and forms part of the governments Strategic Integrated Projects SIP2: Durban-Free State-Gauteng Logistics and Industrial Corridor. SIP2 aims to strengthen the logistics and transport corridor between South Africa’s main industrial hubs, improve access to Durban’s export and import facilities and raise efficiency along the corridor.

“Initial work will impact traffic utilising the R103 north of the Camperdown interchange to south of the Lynnfield Park interchange. STOP/GO traffic accommodation along this section of the R103 will be in place to repair the R103 surface and to lower the R103 where it crosses under the N3 north of  Dardanelles,” said Corné Roux, Project Engineer; SANRAL Eastern Region.

The STOP/GO control is anticipated to be effective from 12 February 2021 until 15 May 2021 in the areas indicated in the image below.

The main upgrading activities on the N3 are expected to commence in May 2021, starting with the widening of the southbound carriageway.

Motorists are, however, advised to take note of the construction site and to be observant of the advance warning signs and speed reductions when travelling past the construction work zones.

“The safety of road users and construction workers is of paramount importance. We urge all road users to be extra vigilant, drive with extreme care during the upgrades and obey traffic rules at all times,” concluded Roux.