As part of a tour to various infrastructure projects, Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure, Patricia de Lille will conduct an oversight visit to the N3 interchange road upgrade infrastructure project in Kwa-Zulu Natal.

In line with her duties as Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure (DPWI) and Chairperson of the Presidential Infrastructure Coordinating Commission (PICC) Secretariat, Minister De Lille will conduct an oversight visit to the project which was gazetted as a Strategic Integrated Project (SIP) in terms of the Infrastructure Development Act in July 2020. 

Minister de Lille will be joined by Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa, head of Infrastructure Investment in the Presidency.

The oversight visit forms part of Minister de Lille’s duties to monitor progress of the 62 projects which were gazetted as SIPs as part of the Infrastructure Investment Plan approved by Cabinet on 27 May 2020.

Many of the gazetted projects are currently in construction and are being expedited to assist in reviving the struggling construction sector and provide much-needed jobs to people.

The N3 road upgrade project is being implemented by the South African National Roads Agency and the Department of Transport.

The project falls within the uMgungundlovu District Municipality, Mkhambathini Local Municipality and eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality in the KwaZulu-Natal Province.

The project will see much needed road expansion and upgrades to the N3 between Cato Ridge and Dardanelles and the N3 between Dardanelles and Lynnfield.

The value of the upgrades to the two sections amounts to over R3.2billion.

Since the start of the construction phase earlier this year, around 485 have been created already with hundreds more jobs to be created over the entire construction phase.

The project has also brought significant benefit to local SMMEs helping to assist in creating economic opportunities for companies and creating much needed jobs.

The N3 is integral to the economic growth of South Africa. A growing South African population has placed this strategic corridor under severe pressure, requiring substantial upgrading to portions of the corridor. This corridor, also referred to as the Durban-Free State-Gauteng Corridor, is a key infrastructure development project.

The project entails upgrading the existing 4-lane dual carriageway to an 8-lane dual carriageway by widening to the median and outer shoulders over a distance of 6.4km. A road-over-rail bridge will also be extended to accommodate the widening of the N3. The upgrade will increase safety and also significantly improve the level of service for years to come.

The direct economic benefits of the upgrades are a reduction in travel times, a reduction in vehicle operating costs and a reduction in accidents costs, all of which have great benefit to the economy at large. There are also indirect economic benefits that will accrue to the local areas.

The upgrade to the N3 should alleviate congestion on roads around the port and on the crucial N3 corridor linking the port of Durban to Gauteng.  The upgrades to the roads will also shorten turnaround times for freight-carrying vehicles.

This project has brought to life the objectives of the Economic Reconstruction and Recovery Plan (ERRP) announced by President Cyril Ramaphosa in October 2020 which aims to assist industries to recover from the tough economic climate and see all sectors working together to help build South Africa back better.

Minister de Lille and the delegation will engage the project managers, workers and SMMEs on site to view and listen to the progress on this project which will have a significant and positive impact for the province, its people and businesses.

Details of Minister de Lille’s visit are as follows:

Date: Thursday 19 August 2021

Time: 9h30 - 10h30

Location: https://maps.app.goo.gl/XCutDJmyZYGxJtJY6