Durban: Road users are advised to take note of road closures for bridge jacking at the EB Cloete Interchange, also known as Spaghetti Junction, which will affect the route from Pinetown (N3 Eastbound) to Amanzimtoti (N2 Southbound).
According to South African Government News Agency, the South African National Roads Agency SOC Limited (SANRAL) has highlighted that this major road network has been under significant stress for several years, with traffic volumes far exceeding the original design capacity of the EB Cloete Interchange and its feeder roads. The closures are deemed necessary to facilitate the vertical jacking of the bridge deck at the interchange, which is crucial for the planned upgrades.
As part of SANRAL’s extensive upgrade, the bridge will be raised and widened over the N2 and N3. This critical work is scheduled to take place over four consecutive weeks, with reserve dates allocated in case of inclement weather. The project is expected to significantly improve the capacity and efficiency of this vital transport route, as stated by SANRAL’s Eastern Region Project Engineer, Corn© Roux.
Road users are strongly advised to plan their routes in advance and leave for their destinations earlier than usual to avoid delays. SANRAL has appealed to road users to comply with advance warning signs and speed restrictions when traveling past the construction work zones. To prioritize safety, the speed limit along the route is reduced during construction.
The closure of the flyover bridge from Pinetown (N3 Eastbound) to Amanzimtoti (N2 Southbound) is scheduled as follows:
– Closure 1: From 14:00, Saturday 8 February 2025 to 02:00, Monday 10 February 2025 for the removal of existing barriers.
– Closure 2: From 14:00, Saturday 15 February 2025 to 02:00, Monday 17 February 2025 for the first stage of jacking.
– Closure 3: From 14:00, Saturday 22 February 2025 to 02:00, Monday 24 February 2025 for the second stage of jacking.
– Closure 4: From 14:00, Saturday 1 March 2025 to 02:00, Monday 03 March 2025 for the third stage of jacking.
– Reserve date: Closure 5 is reserved for 14:00, Saturday 8 March 2025 to 02:00, Monday 10 March 2025 in case of inclement weather.
The remainder of the EB Cloete Interchange will remain fully open to traffic. For those traveling on the N3 Eastbound from Pinetown intending to proceed to the N2 Southbound towards Amanzimtoti, an alternative route is recommended. This involves continuing on the N3 Eastbound towards Sherwood Interchange, taking the offramp, turning right onto Jan Smuts Highway (M13), turning right back onto the N3 Eastbound, and upon approaching EB Cloete Interchange, taking the offramp to the N2 Southbound towards Amanzimtoti.