No major delays on coastal freeway over Easter

Eastern Cape, 31 March 2017. No major road construction will take place along the eastern seaboard linking Cape Town with KwaZulu-Natal but work is in progress just north of Durban close to the King Shaka Airport.

The Easter holiday – from Friday 14 to Monday 17 April – is traditionally a period when there is a rapid spike in traffic on most major national and provincial highways. Historically, there is heavy traffic on the N2 the day before Good Friday, travelling toward Caledon, and again on Easter Monday, going toward Grabouw. These will be the only peak travel times barring any unforeseen major traffic incidents or weather conditions.

The 550km stretch between Cape Town and Port Elizabeth is expected to be in a fair to good condition. The road consists primarily of a single carriageway with climbing lanes. Routine maintenance is expected to occur along sections of the N2.

A new interchange – the Baywest Boulevard – was recently opened which should facilitate traffic flow on the section between Van Staden’s River and Port Elizabeth.

Construction traffic will be encountered in the Grahamstown area with the possibility of blasting activities taking place near the Fish River Pass.

North of Durban construction on the upgrading of the N2/M41 Mount Edgecombe interchange in ongoing. There will be temporary traffic diversions in place and drivers are advised to be on the lookout for stop-go controls and other traffic signs.

Between Empangeni and Pongola on the KwaZulu-Natal north coast construction is taking place at the Kwabhoboza Interchange.

Motorists travelling the Garden Route are advised to be alert for pedestrians and stray animals within the informal settlements in Knysna along the George to Natures Valley route.

Undulations occur along the Gamtoos River to Van Staden’s River section. Caution is advised as pedestrians will be encountered at Thornhill. Temporary closures due to blasting along the Grahamstown to Fish River route will result in speed restrictions in the area. Stop-go controls can be expected.

Stray animals may be encountered along the Kei River to Dutywa route. Motorists are advised to proceed with caution.

Stop-go’s may be encountered from Gonubie to Kei River due to construction from the R63-T-junction to the Kei Bridge. Lane restrictions and detours will be encountered along the Green River to Breidbach route.

There may be delays between King Williams Town and East London due to road works. Recent upgrades along the route from the Fish River to Keiskamma Pass may result in temporary road closures.

Further north and as the highway swigs inland, stop-go controls may be expected from Piet Retief to Ermelo due to road resealing.

Vusi Mona, communications manager of the South African National Roads Agency SOC Ltd (SANRAL), calls on road users to obey speed limits and slow down at demarcated areas where temporary construction might take place.

“The national and provincial road network is a safe environment and if drivers stick to the rules of the road and display tolerance and courtesy towards fellow road users, we should be able to cut down on the unacceptably high rate of fatal crashes,” says Mona.

“Driving requires focus. If you are tired, take a break; do not text and drive. Know your WHOA!”