Traffic between Camperdown and Dardanelles on the N3 will switch to contraflow on the evening of March 9, a few days earlier than expected, the South African National Roads Agency Limited (Sanral) says.

“Contraflow is a temporary arrangement where traffic on a road is transferred from its usual side to share the other half of the carriageway with traffic moving in the opposite direction,” explains Sanral Eastern Region project manager Mohamed Parak.

The move to contraflow in the area forms part of the construction work on the upgrade of the N3 from the Cato Ridge Interchange to the northern end of the Dardanelles Cutting, which began on April 14, 2021.

“The progress on the construction of the side-drain exceeded expectations and switchover to contraflow will be possible a few days earlier than previously expected,” says Parak.

This 48-month construction project involves the upgrade of 6.4 km of the existing four-lane dual carriageway to an eight-lane dual carriageway by widening into the median and outer shoulders.

A road-over-rail bridge will also be extended to accommodate the widening of the road, together with numerous pipe culverts. The upgrade will include lighting along the 6.4 km.

The R103 provincial road, which runs next to the N3, will also be upgraded between the outer limits of the contract. A new section of R103 will be built alongside the N3 on the southern side between Camperdown Interchange and the existing R103 Overpass just south of Camperdown Interchange.

“The temporary widening of the existing N3 has been proceeding well and all traffic can now be diverted onto the temporarily widened road between Camperdown Interchange and Dardanelles.

“Traffic on the northbound (Pietermaritzburg bound) will be diverted to the temporarily widened southbound (Durban bound) carriageway at Camperdown Interchange and diverted back to the northbound carriageway at Dardanelles (km 26.6). The switchover will be done at night.

“Contraflow conditions will exist on the southbound carriageway between Camperdown Interchange and Dardanelles with concrete barriers in place between the two opposite traffic streams. Two lanes will be available in both directions,” explains Parak.

Once the traffic has been diverted off the northbound carriageway, the existing northbound carriageway will be available for total reconstruction of the new four-lane northbound carriageway.

It is expected that contraflow conditions will be in place until January 2024.

The speed limit along the route has been reduced to 80 km/hour to improve safety of the construction team and road users. Temporary lane closures to permit construction on the trafficked carriageways can be expected in the evening and the public will be informed in advance of such activity.

“We appeal to road users to note and comply with the advance warning signs and speed restrictions when travelling past the construction work zones. Motorists are encouraged to plan their trips accordingly, and to make provision for the additional travel time,” says Parak.