Parts of N3 highway to be closed for two days

The N3 highway between Ashburton and Market Road, near Pietermaritzburg, will be fully closed on Saturday and Sunday January 20 and 21 to facilitate the demolition of the Cleland Bridge on the N3.

The South African National Roads Agency (SANRAL) has declared the full closure as essential for the on-going roadworks in the area.

Jason Lowe, Sanral’s Eastern Region Project Manager, highlighted that the closures are part of a broader road improvement initiative aimed at benefiting road users in the medium-to-long term. Both northbound and southbound traffic will be barred from accessing the N3 during the specified times.

“The closures are due to the demolition of the Cleland Bridge on the N3 north- and south-bound as part of the N3 construction process. The traffic accommodation team, with the assistance of the Road Traffic Inspectorate (RTI), will manage and monitor the diversion of traffic to the R103.”

The proposed schedule for the full road closures is as follows:

• January 20, 6pm to midnight: N3 closure for breaking the bridge structure.
• January 21, midnight to 6am: Completion of breaking, cleaning, and reopening N3, allowing traffic to resume.

Alternative routes have been outlined for affected traffic:

• Northbound traffic will exit at the Ashburton Interchange onto R103 and rejoin the N3 at the Market Road Intersection.
• Southbound traffic will exit at the Market Road Interchange onto R103 and rejoin the N3 at the Ashburton Intersection.

Sanral noted that the closure might be subject to adjustments depending on weather conditions. The agency pledged to keep the public informed about progress and changes through subsequent media statements.

Mr Lowe apologised in advace for any inconvenience caused during the road closure, emphasising that these disruptions were an unavoidable consequence of necessary road improvements. He mentioned efforts made to minimize disturbances by restricting closures to times when traffic is at its lowest levels.