PIETERMARITZBURG — The South African National Roads Agency SOC Limited (SANRAL) has announced a full closure of the N3 Northbound carriageway at the Market Road Overpass in Pietermaritzburg. The shutdown, scheduled for Saturday, 11 April 2026, will take place between 21:00 and 05:00 to facilitate critical bridge construction.
The closure is required for the installation of soffit beams as part of the new Market Road overpass bridge project. This work forms a vital component of the R1.91 billion N3 upgrade spanning from Gladys Manzi Road to the New England Road Interchange. SANRAL has identified Sunday, 12 April 2026, as an alternative date for the work should inclement weather prevent the initial Saturday schedule.
Jason Lowe, SANRAL Specialist Geometrics Engineer for KwaZulu-Natal, stated that the traffic accommodation team and the Road Traffic Inspectorate (RTI) have collaborated to manage the disruption. Lowe confirmed that the teams will actively monitor the closure for its entire duration to ensure safety and traffic flow.
Motorists are advised to use the Market Road off-ramp via a temporary road to the Market Road on-ramp to rejoin the N3. An additional alternative route for light vehicles via the Ashburton Interchange northbound off-ramp may be implemented at the discretion of the RTI, depending on traffic volumes.
The broader R1.91 billion infrastructure project aims to significantly increase capacity on this high-volume corridor. The upgrade will expand the existing N3 cross-section from two northbound and three southbound lanes to a configuration of four northbound and five southbound lanes per carriageway.
The project is designed to reduce chronic traffic congestion and improve safety standards on one of South Africa’s most critical freight and commuter arteries. However, the scale of the construction requires temporary periods of total road closure to ensure the safety of both workers and the public during heavy beam installations.
Trucks and heavy vehicles have been specifically advised by SANRAL to delay their trips during the closure period or seek suitable staging areas to prevent major congestion. Public transport operators are also urged to inform their drivers of the route changes to minimize delays for commuters.
Lowe acknowledged the significant disruption caused by such closures but emphasized that they are scheduled during off-peak hours to minimize the impact on the economy and general travel. SANRAL has apologized for the inconvenience and requested patience from the public during these infrastructure enhancements.
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