Durban, 18 August 2026 – The South African National Roads Agency SOC Limited (SANRAL) advises motorists of a temporary road closure on the N3 Eastbound carriageway from Pietermaritzburg towards Durban CBD, within the EB Cloete Interchange.
“A full closure of the N3 Eastbound carriageway is required to switch traffic to the newly constructed Westbound lanes. This will allow the contractor to commence with construction of the new N3 Eastbound lanes free of traffic. Note that the closure will only take place within the EB Cloete interchange and the N3 remains open outside of the interchange,” said Jason Lowe, SANRAL’s KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Office Road Safety Specialist Engineer.
The temporary road closure will take place as follows:
- N3 Eastbound Carriageway Closure:
- This carriageway will be fully closed from 18:00, Saturday 22 August 2026 to 18:00, Sunday 23 August 2026 within the EB Cloete Interchange area only
Note that all other carriageways (N2 and N3 Westbound) and all ramps within the Interchange are remain open.
As required for the safety of both road users and the construction team, full traffic accommodation plans and detour signage will be in place.
Trucks and heavy vehicles are advised to try and delay trips over this period, find suitable staging areas or reroute using the alternative route options to avoid major congestion. Public transport operators are asked to ensure their drivers are aware of route closures and alternatives affecting their commuter routes.
All road-users are advised to plan their routes ahead of time and where possible leave for destinations earlier than usual.
A detailed alternative route guide can be found at this link: https://www.nra.co.za/project-n2n3-upgrades?region_id=eastern 2
CLOSURE LOCATIONS:
Closure at EB Cloete (aka Spaghetti Junction) N2/N3 Interchange:
- Full N3 Eastbound carriageway closure after the N2 North/South off-ramps (Pinetown to Umhlanga / King Shaka International Airport / Amanzimtoti). Vehicles can only proceed to the N2 North or South.
- The N2 and N3 Westbound remain fully open to traffic.
“SANRAL appeals to road users to note and comply with the advance warning signs, temporary lane markings and speed restrictions when travelling through the construction work zone. To prioritise the safety of both construction workers and road users, speed limits along the route will be reduced during construction,” added Lowe.
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For editorial content or additional information contact Lwando Mahlasela on 082 440 5305 pressoffice@nra.co.za