SANRAL announces full weekend closure of the N3 highway near Ashburton to demolish Pope Ellis Drive bridge and redirect traffic through the R103 in KwaZulu-Natal
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SANRAL announces full weekend closure of the N3 highway near Ashburton to demolish Pope Ellis Drive bridge and redirect traffic through the R103 in KwaZulu-Natal

If you’re planning to drive between Durban and Pietermaritzburg this weekend, you’ll need to rethink your route.

A critical section of the N3 highway near Ashburton will be completely closed to traffic, and the South African National Roads Agency (SANRAL) is urging motorists to plan ahead.

Full Closure to Demolish Ashburton Bridge

SANRAL has confirmed that both directions of the N3 will be shut down from 8 PM on Friday, 9 May, until 5 AM on Sunday, 11 May.

The closure is necessary to safely demolish the Ashburton (Pope Ellis Drive) bridge as part of the major road upgrade project along this busy transport route.

That means no vehicles will be able to travel between the Lynnfield (Lion Park) and Market Road interchanges during this period.

Jason Lowe, SANRAL’s KwaZulu-Natal Geometrics Engineer, says the full closure is critical to carry out the work safely and efficiently.

Detours Through R103 and Expected Delays

To keep traffic moving, SANRAL is directing all vehicles onto the R103 as a detour.

Here’s how it will work:

  • If you’re heading northbound from Durban to Pietermaritzburg, exit the N3 at Lynnfield and follow the R103, rejoining the highway at Market Road.

  • If you’re heading southbound from Pietermaritzburg to Durban, you’ll need to exit at Market Road and connect back to the N3 via Lynnfield.

Pope Ellis Drive will still be accessible, but traffic will be reduced to a stop/go system during the bridge demolition.

Expect this route to be slow-moving, especially for heavy-duty vehicles.

Heavy Traffic and Delays Are Inevitable

Let’s be honest—this detour is going to be a headache. SANRAL has made it clear that the R103 isn’t designed to handle the same traffic load as the N3, especially when it comes to trucks and freight carriers.

Delays are almost guaranteed.

“If you’re driving a heavy goods vehicle, try to reschedule your trip to avoid traveling during the closure,” Lowe advised.

SANRAL Apologises and Urges Smart Planning

The agency is asking all road users to map out alternate routes, allow for extra travel time, and be especially mindful of road signs and speed limits.

“SANRAL wishes to apologise for the inconvenience,” Lowe said, “but this work is essential to improving the safety and flow of traffic along the N3 corridor in the long run.”