Traffic on the N3 northbound carriageway will be diverted onto the newly constructed carriageway between Cato Ridge Interchange and Camperdown Interchange later this week, the South African National Roads Agency SOC Limited (Sanral) has announced.
“The switchover will be done at night commencing from 5pm on Thursday, November 9, until 5am on Friday, November 10. The southbound traffic will continue using the lanes currently used,” said Thabiso Dladla, Sanral’s Eastern Region project manager.
“The target date for switching the southbound traffic to contraflow between Camperdown Interchange and Cato Ridge Interchange is 11 December 2023. Contraflow conditions between Camperdown Interchange and Dardanelles will not be affected by this traffic switch and will remain in contraflow,” Dladla said.
Once the traffic has been diverted off the southbound carriageway between Camperdown and Cato Ridge interchanges, the existing southbound carriageway will be available for the total reconstruction of the new four-lane southbound carriageway. It is expected that contraflow conditions will prevail until January 2025.
The speed limit along the route has been reduced to 80km/hr to improve safety for the construction team and road users. Lane closures to permit construction vehicles to safely enter and exit the work zone could be expected at night and the public would be informed in advance of such activity, Sanral said.
Delays are expected as a result of the reduced speed limit and motorists have been urged to plan their trips carefully and be vigilant along the road.
“Sanral apologises to the motoring public for any inconvenience caused during the switchover. We appeal to road users to adhere to the road signs and speed limit when approaching and travelling through the construction site,” Dladla said.