Motorists travelling along the N3 near Ashburton can breathe a little easier this weekend, as the full road closure initially planned for May 9 to 11 has been postponed to next week.
The South African National Roads Agency (Sanral) has confirmed that the demolition of the Ashburton Bridge will now take place from 8pm on Thursday, May 16, to 5am on Saturday, May 18.
This delay comes as a huge relief for thousands of soccer fans making their way to Durban for the much-anticipated Nedbank Cup final between Soweto giants Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates.
Had the closures gone ahead as initially scheduled, it would’ve created a logistical nightmare with fans caught in long detours and traffic delays.
According to Sanral’s Provincial Specialist Geometrics Engineer, Jason Lowe, the full closure will affect both directions of the N3 between the Lynnfield Park and Market Road interchanges.
“The closures are due to the demolition of the Ashburton Bridge as part of the north- and south-bound N3 construction upgrade,” Lowe explained. “Traffic will be diverted via the R103, with support from the Road Traffic Inspectorate (RTI).”
Here’s the planned schedule for the closure:
May 16 (8pm – midnight): Closure of N3 and commencement of demolition
May 17 (midnight – midnight): Full-day road closure
May 18 (midnight – 5am): Final demolition, cleaning, and reopening of the N3
Alternative routes include:
Northbound traffic: Diverted at Lynnfield off-ramp to the R103, rejoining the N3 at Market Road
Southbound traffic: Diverted at Market Road to the R103, rejoining the N3 at Lynnfield
Access to Pope Ellis Drive will be limited to residents and controlled with stop-and-go systems. Sanral urges all road users to follow the temporary signage and to remain patient and alert while using the detour routes.
Weather conditions could still affect the timing, but updates will be communicated via official channels.
“Sanral apologises for any inconvenience caused. These closures are essential for upgrading the N3 and every effort has been made to limit disruptions,” Lowe concluded.
Motorists are strongly encouraged to plan ahead and avoid unnecessary travel through the affected areas during this period.
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