KZN undergoing R25bn road upgrades

Nine road construction projects are currently under way across KwaZulu-Natal, to the value of R25-billion.

This was announced on Monday by the South African National Roads Agency SOC Limited (Sanral).

According to Sanral’s Eastern Region acting regional manager Dudley Mbambo, the N2 and N3 programme is well on track and has been ongoing since the start of 2021.

Of the nine projects, seven are on the N3 between Durban and Pietermaritzburg, while the other two are on the N2 – KwaMashu to uMdloti and the EB Cloete interchange, locally known as the Spaghetti Junction, in eThekwini.

Mbambo said the R1.2-billion KwaMashu interchange to uMdloti project started in August 2021 and is due for completion during the last quarter of 2025, while the M41 pedestrian bridge is to be undertaken as a Community Development and Road Safety project as a much-needed safety measure on this project and its completion is of utmost importance.

“We need to ensure the safety of all road users is prioritised, including pedestrians. There are households next to the M41 highway and people crossing to go to work in various places. These people must be provided with a pedestrian bridge that will make it safe to cross the highway,” said Mbambo.

Major strides have been achieved on the R5-billion EB Cloete interchange project which started in May last year.

Construction is 15% complete as of the end of July, and the targeted enterprises have earned well over R35-million.

This project aims to increase the capacity of the EB Cloete interchange and 8.1km of the N2 and N3 in the vicinity back to acceptable service levels through the addition of new lanes on the interchange ramps and the carriageways of the N2 and N3.

“There are currently 20 lanes in the interchange and the upgrades will increase that capacity to 32 lanes in all directions. The upgraded interchange and adjacent N2 and N3 will provide additional lanes that will reduce traffic congestion and delays to the travelling public upon completion,” said Mbambo.

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