Full N3 road closure as Ashburton bridge set for demolition

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22-04-2025
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The Witness
Source

Sanral said the closure forms part of the ongoing N3 upgrade project.

Motorists using the N3 are advised to plan ahead as the entire section of the national road near Ashburton will be closed from 8 pm on May 9 until 5 am on May 11, to allow for the demolition of the Ashburton (Pope Ellis Drive) bridge.

The South African National Roads Agency (Sanral) confirmed that both the northbound and southbound lanes of the N3 will be fully closed between the Lynnfield Park and Market Road interchanges during this period.

Jason Lowe, Sanral’s KZN Provincial Specialist Geometrics Engineer, said the closure forms part of the ongoing N3 upgrade project.

“The closures are necessary to safely demolish the Ashburton bridge as part of the N3 construction process,” said Lowe.

Traffic will be diverted to the R103, and the Road Traffic Inspectorate (RTI) will assist with monitoring and managing the flow of diverted vehicles.

Closure Schedule:

• May 9 (8 pm – midnight): Closure begins, demolition work starts
• May 10 (midnight – midnight): Full 24-hour closure for continued demolition
• May 11 (midnight – 5 am): Final clean-up and reopening of the N3

While the Pope Ellis Drive bridge itself will remain open, it will operate under stop/go traffic control during this period.

Alternative Routes:

• Northbound (Durban to PMB): Exit the N3 at Lynnfield (Lion Park) and join the R103. Rejoin the N3 at Market Road.
• Southbound (PMB to Durban): Exit at Market Road and use the R103 to reconnect to the N3 at Lynnfield Interchange.

Sanral has warned that the R103 cannot handle the same volume of traffic as the N3, and significant delays are expected, particularly for freight and heavy goods vehicles.

Motorists are urged to reschedule their trips if possible. If travel is unavoidable, please allow extra time and exercise patience.

The agency added that the schedule may change depending on weather conditions, and updates will be issued if needed.