N3 near Pietermaritzburg closed due to smoke from dumpsite

The N3 highway near the Market Road off-ramp in Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal, was closed in both directions on Thursday morning due to thick smoke that came from a burning dumpsite in the area.

Vehicles were piling up, causing heavy digestion – not only on the highway, but on other roads in the area.

KwaZulu-Natal emergency services spokesperson Robert McKenzie told News24 that the fire at the dumpsite had started on Monday night, but by Thursday, it had caused so much smoke that visibility on the roads had been severely impaired.

“The Road Traffic Inspectorate closed the highway on Thursday morning,” McKenzie said.

“The normal town roads in the area are also affected with many people stuck in traffic.”

KwaZulu-Natal Road Traffic Inspectorate spokesperson Superintendent Zinhle Mngomezulu told News24 traffic was being diverted from the area, while trucks heading toward Durban would be held back until the smoke subsides.

Mngomezulu said while the fire was seemingly under control, smoke caused problems for the past three days.

“The stench is also quite bad,” Mngomezulu added.

JUST IN : PMB DUMP FIRE – N3 CLOSED

Due to the density of smoke in the vicinity of the landfill site, the N3 has been closed. Vehicles are being stacked on the highway @KZN_EMS pic.twitter.com/qHrhFsGTCm

— Arrive Alive (@_ArriveAlive) July 24, 2020

For more news your way, download The Citizen’s app for iOS and Android.