Cape Town — The South African National Roads Agency (SANRAL) has undertaken two-multi billion rand projects to fix the two main highways across Kwa-Zulu Natal (KZN) – the N2 and N3.
SANRAL said the planned upgrades include the N3 from Pietermaritzburg to Durban, covering nearly 80kms, as well as the upgrades to EB Cloete to Mpofana Junction, while the N2 will be upgraded from eThekwini to Umdloti, totals costs amounting to R24 billion, IOL reported.
“These upgrades include widening the N2 and N3 carriageways, with four or five lanes in each direction, and reconfiguration of most major interchanges along these route sections. The greater N2/N3 corridor upgrades are expected to take 8-10 years to complete and will create up to 15,000 job opportunities during this period,” SANRAL said.
The upgrades of the N2 and N3 are part of government’s key strategic integrated projects, SIP2: Durban-Free-State-Gauteng Logistics and Industrial Corridor.
“The SIP2 aims to strengthen the logistics and transport corridor between the county’s main industrial hubs, improve access to Durban’s export and import facilities and increase efficiency.” SANRAL said.
Due to the limited space available for the EB Cloete Interchange, the project will feature a spectacular flyover arch similar to that of the iconic Moses Mabhida Stadium, and it will be an iconic landmark as one enters the N3 into KZN.
Transport Minister, Sinidiswe Chikunga, praised the government’s efforts to grow the economy through infrastructure development.
“These infrastructure projects are not only about improving roads, road safety and creating better movement of goods and people but it is important to stress that government’s infrastructure projects are also aimed at improving the lives of the vast majority of our people,” she said.
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Compiled by Matthew Petersen
