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The N3 highway running between Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal is the busiest transport corridor in South Africa. Serving the ports of Durban and Richards Bay, the N3 is of national and regional importance and a vital link for the global business community and wider African hinterland.

That a 418 kilometre section of the route is to be upgraded and managed through a multi-billion Rand toll concession contract comes as heart warming news to the road freight industry as well as thousands of motorists and travellers.

Why good news? The public-private partnership provides a mechanism whereby substantial financing is made available to maintain the existing national roads. Through this Concession all road users of the N3 are assured that a modern highway conforming to the highest standards in the world will allow safe and cost efficient motoring in due course.

The Concession

The contract covers a 418-kilometre stretch of roadway from Heidelberg just south of Johannesburg to Cedara north of Pietermaritzburg in KwaZulu-Natal.

Initial construction work will include a dual carriage way between Villiers and Heidelberg. This will be a new four lane, dual carriageway for part of the section and the addition of a new carriageway on the balance. The contract also includes the upgrade and rehabilitation work on the remainder of this section and certain adjacent provincial roads. Included in the contract is the additional enhancement to the road in the vicinity of Harrismith to become a four lane undivided carriageway

Construction of the new, upgraded portions of the road will commence early in the year 2000 and span three years.

De Beers Pass

A complete new 100 - kilometre section of road between Keeversfontein, via De Beers pass, to Warden will be constructed over a four-year period from 2010. This will shorten the route between Gauteng and Durban by 13 kms. In terms of vehicle operating costs, however, this equates to savings of millions of Rands over the project life. In addition to the shorter distance, further safety factors such as lower gradients and grade separated access will lead to enhanced traffic safety and make this route more "truck friendly".

Once completed the 418 - km toll route will save more than just distance and the financial savings even greater. World class road surfaces and a more direct route, translate into fewer gear changes required, less fuel usage and reduced tyre and overall vehicle wear and tear. This means lower operating costs and reduced risk resulting from excessive driver fatigue with significantly improved road and traffic safety.

From Keeversfontein to the KwaZulu Natal border, the new road will consist of a divided four-lane dual carriageway and include a split tunnel of some 500 metres in length. From the KwaZulu-Natal border to Warden it will be an undivided four-lane dual carriageway.