Construction on the new wider southbound carriageway of the N3 is expected to be completed at the end of January 2025.
The southbound traffic is expected to be switched from contraflow on the northbound carriageway onto the two slow lanes (outer lanes) of the newly
constructed southbound carriageway between Cato Ridge Interchange and Umlaas Road.
Thabiso Dladla, Project Manager at the South African National Roads Agency SOC Limited (SANRAL) said “this is required to complete the construction of the median barrier and the street lighting. The switchover is intended to take place at night from 7pm on Thursday, 30 January 2025 until 5am on Friday, 31 January 2025. The northbound traffic will not be affected by this traffic switch and will continue using the lanes currently in use. Two lanes will be available in each direction until the completion of the works in the median.”
Dladla said this switchover will eliminate the chicanes currently in place at Cato Ridge Interchange and near Umlaas Road for the southbound traffic and will lead to safer traveling conditions.
“The speed limit along the route remains at 80km/hr to improve safety to the construction team and road users. Motorists are requested not to exceed the speed limit as slow-moving construction traffic need to enter, and exit, the working area in the median (both directions)” said Dladla.
Future night time lane closures can still be expected to allow the contractors to maintain the road and chiefly to remove any litter that may end up hampering the surface runoff drainage.