The Cornubia link bridge and interchange, scheduled for completion in the first quarter of 2017, will provide businesses in the area unencumbered access to main arterial routes and a dedicated link into the heart of the uMhlanga new town centre.

The multibillion-rand Cornubia human settlement development was the result of a collaboration between the eThekwini municipality and sugar producer Tongaat Hulett.

The roadway would be the second access route linking Cornubia to the N2. The link bridge and interchange formed part of an extension to the uMhlanga Ridge boulevard crossing over the N2 freeway adjacent to the flagship Porsche dealership.
 
It would form a part of the new Go!Durban integrated rapid public transport network (IRPTN), a priority transport project that combined existing and new rail systems with bus rapid transit (BRT) systems, as well as roads and pedestrian and bicycle facilities. 
 
The multimillion-rand link bridge would add value to property developer Redefine Properties’ newly completed uShukela industrial park, a  27 660 m2 greenfield industrial development featuring 16 midsize units for light manufacturing, warehousing, logistics and similar applications.

The new N2 highway interchange would provide free-flow accessibility to the greater Cornubia precinct and the industrial park.
 
“uShukela is well-located for businesses to leverage its proximity to the Port [of Durban], the central business district and retail centres. The benefit of efficient connectivity to central and northern nodes establishes our park as a key industrial facility, suitable to warehousing for smaller importers and technology focussed industries,” said Redefine Properties national asset manager Johann Nel.

The region was a future platform for oil, gas and renewable-energy industries for local and export production.

With both Richards Bay and the Dube TradePort already established as industrial development zones (IDZS), the entire province was poised for growth.
 
The Department of Trade and Industry earmarked Dube TradePort, along with the Tshiame IDZ, in Harrismith, as the first to be transformed into special economic zones as soon as the regulatory framework had been established.

This was expected to bring further attractive differentiated incentives for doing business in KwaZulu-Natal.