Motorists Face Five Years of Highway Delays As Massive R6bn Transport Scheme Begins

• A massive infrastructure project has commenced on one of South Africa’s primary transport corridors, the N3 and motorists
• Commuters travelling between two major hubs of Durban and Johannesburg face long-term disruptions due to extensive roadworks
• Transportation authorities have introduced strict temporary guidelines to manage traffic flow through a major development zone

Drivers travelling on one of KwaZulu-Natal’s busiest motorways are being warned to brace themselves for major travel disruptions. The South African National Roads Agency (SANRAL) has initiated a massive R6 billion engineering project to widen and repair an 11.1km section of the N3 highway situated between the Mariannhill Toll Plaza and Key Ridge. This extensive infrastructure improvement scheme is anticipated to take up to 60 months, or five years, to completion.

The traffic consequences

Local publication The South African reported that the engineering works are now officially underway on this critical freight and passenger corridor linking Durban to Johannesburg. The launch of the upgrades coincides with the winter school holidays, a peak travel period when thousands of holidaymakers traditionally make the intercity journey. Officials have cautioned that the overall impact on local traffic flow will be substantial throughout the contract.

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Road users safety rules

To ensure the safety of on-site labourers and road users alike, temporary speed restrictions have been introduced across the active construction zone. Large freight vehicles are restricted to a maximum speed of 40km/h, whilst regular motor cars must not exceed 60km/h. Drivers are strongly encouraged to factor more time into their travel itineraries or use secondary roads, such as the M13 and local municipal bypasses, during peak hours.

5 Briefly News articles about motorists

• Two men turned a taxi ride into a dance floor, pulling off perfectly synchronised moves in the middle of heavy Cape Town traffic, impressing many social media users.
• A joyful traffic officer earned praise online for his entertaining approach to directing motorists, turning a workday task into a Broadway stage.
• A large elephant seal turned heads in Gordon's Bay, near Cape Town, after it was seen chilling on Sir Lowry's Road, stopping traffic and hearts alike.
• A local man stepped out of his car with a 5-litre bottle of water to pour for motorists who were stuck in heavy traffic, touching the hearts of many viewers.
• A kind-hearted taxi driver invited a woman he met in traffic to his township, Dunoon and promised her she'd be safe with him around.

Source: Briefly News