Pietermaritzburg – The South African National Roads Agency (SANRAL) has announced that sections of the N3 between Ashburton and New England Interchange will be fully closed on selected days this month to allow for controlled blasting works near the Market Road Overpass Bridge.
The closures form part of the ongoing construction between Gladys Manzi Road and New England Road Interchange — a key upgrade on one of the busiest freight routes in the country.
According to SANRAL, the N3 will be closed in both directions between 15h00 and 15h30 on the following days:
- Tuesday, 21 October 2025
- Wednesday, 22 October 2025
- Thursday, 23 October 2025
- Tuesday, 28 October 2025
During these times, all connecting roads between Ashburton and New England interchanges will also be closed to traffic.
The closure process will run as follows:
- 15h00 to 15h15 – Close the N3 and connecting roads and carry out blasting.
- 15h15 to 15h30 – Clean up debris.
- 15h30 – Reopen all roads for traffic.
The R103 will serve as an alternative route during the closure, but SANRAL has warned that it cannot handle the same volume of traffic as the N3, so heavy congestion and delays are expected. The agency added that closure times may change depending on weather conditions, and updated notices will be issued if necessary.
Jason Lowe, SANRAL’s KwaZulu-Natal Specialist Geometrics Engineer, said the closures have been carefully planned in coordination with the Road Traffic Inspectorate (RTI).
“We understand these closures cause major disruption and have planned them to take place when the impact is minimal. Truckers and heavy vehicle drivers are advised to delay trips or use suitable staging areas to avoid major congestion,” Lowe said.
SANRAL apologised for the inconvenience and thanked motorists and transport operators for their patience as it continues the major road upgrade works on the N3 corridor.
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