The South African National Roads Agency (SANRAL) has revealed plans for temporary road closures as part of the ongoing upgrades to the King Cetshwayo Bridge in Durban.
Scheduled for the weekend of May 11th and 12th, 2024, the road closures will affect both the north and southbound lanes of the N2 near the EB Cloete Interchange.
Starting at 8 pm on Saturday, May 11th, the closures will last until 4 am on Sunday, May 12th, for the northbound lanes. For the southbound lanes, closures will commence at 8 pm on Sunday, May 12th, and conclude at 4 am on Monday, May 13th.
Jason Lowe, SANRAL’s eastern region project manager, emphasized the strain on the major road network due to increased traffic volumes surpassing the original design capacity. The King Cetshwayo Bridge, built in the late 1960s, requires additional lanes to manage the growing traffic flow. The forthcoming closures are part of a broader effort to upgrade the national road network, with a particular focus on easing congestion around the EB Cloete Interchange.
The installation of bridge beams for the new King Cetshwayo Bridge on the M13 over the N2 near Westwood Mall signifies a significant milestone in SANRAL’s upgrade project.
To ensure safety for road users and construction personnel, comprehensive traffic accommodation plans have been devised. Signage, barriers, and traffic calming measures are already in place along affected routes.
Truck drivers and operators of heavy vehicles are advised to modify their travel plans and seek alternative routes to avoid potential congestion during the closure period.
Public transport operators are urged to inform their drivers about route closures and explore alternative commuter routings.
Alternative routes for light vehicles, emergency services, and traffic management have been identified to minimize disruption during the closure period.