Name and Location
N3 toll route upgrade and expansion project, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.

Client
Concessionaire N3 Toll Concession (N3TC).

Project Description
The N3 toll route between South Africa’s inland provinces and the Port of Durban, in KwaZulu-Natal, is considered one of the country’s most strategic freight and logistics corridors.

N3TC’s road rehabilitation management strategy determines the appropriate time for rehabilitation activities. As a result of high traffic volumes, this programme typically follows an eight-year cycle. Roads carrying lower traffic volumes have a life span of almost 15 years.

Work on a rehabilitation project between Mooi River and Estcourt started in 2013. It involves the rehabilitation of the left lane, or truck lane, and includes a new asphalt pavement surface on all lanes on this section.

A rehabilitation project on the toll route between Harrismith and Warden started in January 2015. This 60 km section will be rebuilt – the existing road surface in both directions will be reconstructed and will receive a new asphalt overlay.

Roadmac Surfacing has been contracted to perform the reconstruction, while SNA Consulting Engineers designed the project and will oversee the execution of the project. It is expected to be completed by April 2017.

The most complex of the three construction projects from Cedara to Tweedie, near Howick, involves more than 14 km of the N3 toll route. Two additional traffic lanes, one in each direction, will be built in the existing median to increase the route’s capacity in this high-traffic zone, and the Umgeni river bridge will be expanded as part of this project.

Value
The rehabilitation project between Mooi River and Estcourt involves an investment of R444-million.

The route between Harrismith and Warden involves an investment of R413-million.

The Cedara to Tweedie route will involve an investment of R400-million.

Duration
The rehabilitation project between Mooi River and Estcourt will be completed towards the end of 2015.

The route between Harrismith and Warden is expected to be completed by April 2017.

The expansion of the Cedara to Tweedie route will start in August 2015 and is expected to take 24 months to complete.

Latest Developments
None stated.

Key Contracts and Suppliers
Roadmac Surfacing (Harrismith and Warden road reconstruction), SNA Consulting Engineers (design – Harrismith and Warden road).

On Budget and on Time?
Not stated.

Contact Details for Project Information
N3TC, tel +27 87 285 6382, fax +27 12 492 3300 or email headoffice@n3tc.co.za.