Expansion of N3 between Joburg and Durban
13 January 2015
The N3 Toll Concession (N3TC) is investing more than R1-billion to expand the N3 toll
route over next three years, the company has said.
The N3, between South Africa's inland provinces and Durban, is one the country's
most strategic freight and logistics corridors. N3TC manages a portion of the road,
between the Cedara interchange near Hilton, in KwaZulu-Natal, and the Heidelberg
South interchange in Gauteng.
Work on a R444-million rehabilitation project between Mooi River and Estcourt began
in 2013, and will be completed towards the end of 2015. The left lane – or truck lane
– is being rehabilitated and the project includes a new asphalt pavement surface to
all lanes on this section.
In addition, a 60km section between Harrismith and Warden will be reconstructed at
a cost of R413-million, with working beginning this month. The existing road surface
in both directions will be reconstructed and will receive a new
asphalt overlay.
Roadmac Surfacing will do the reconstruction; SNA Consulting Engineers designed the
project and will oversee its execution. It is expected to be completed by April 2017.
N3TC says it is "acutely aware" of the disruption that road construction may cause
to the free flow of traffic. To minimise inconvenience to road users, the company has
agreed to limit single lane closures in either direction to 3km sections at a time.
"There will, at all times, be at least one lane open to traffic to regulate the flow of
traffic while construction is under way," says N3TC's technical manager, Douglas
Judd. "Therefore, no undue delays are anticipated.
"Traffic will be accommodated contra-flow in the lanes where construction is not
under way at a specific time. This will allow for a safe working space for contract
workers."
N3TC says the time frames of the road works programme have been planned to
ensure that all four lanes are open to
traffic at peak times such as Easter and long
weekends.
Finally, the most complex of the three construction projects – over 14 kilometres
from Cedara to Tweedie near Howick – will begin in August. This R400-million
expansion project should be completed within 24 months.
Two additional traffic lanes, one in each direction, will be constructed in the existing
median to increase the route's capacity in this high traffic zone. The Umgeni River
Bridge will also be expanded.
"N3TC is implementing this expansion well in advance of its actual capacity
requirement in order to minimise the impact on heavier traffic in later years," says
Judd.
A traffic management programme will be in place to minimise disruption and
inconvenience to road users, with construction taking place in the median.
This multimillion-rand investment will be funded by N3TC with no additional tolling
required.
It is part of a tightly managed rehabilitation and
expansion programme on the route,
the company says. As a result of high traffic volumes, this programme typically
follows an eight-year cycle.
"We are committed to ensuring additional road capacity is added before traffic
volumes increase to a level which may negatively impact on the safety, convenience
and mobility of N3 toll route users," adds Judd.
Sainfo reporter
The N3, in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands. (Image: Wikimedia Commons: Kierano)
