Friday, 17 January 2025 @ 07:00

The recovery of the dropped transformer and emergency road repairs were successfully completed shortly after 23:30 last night. All lanes on Van Reenen Pass are open to traffic.

Thank you for your patience and support.

Thursday, 16 January 2025 @ 18:15

STOP/GO traffic controls have now been implemented while expert teams carefully proceed with the RECOVERY of the dropped transformer at N3 6X Km 57.4, near Van Reenen town. Road users are advised to continue to be prepared for short, intermittent road closures during this mammoth recovery operation, which is expected to continue for an extended period.

Please approach the area with caution, especially as night falls and visibility is reduced. Slow moving traffic, congestion and heavy delays should be expected along the Pass.

If at all possible, please delay your trips to this area until the recovery operation is complete. Follow @N3Route on X for regular, verified traffic updates, or call the 24-hour N3 Helpline on 0800 63 43 57 to report any emergencies while travelling on the N3 Toll Route.

Thursday, 16 January 2025 @ 16:25

The RECOVERY of the dropped transformer at N3 6X Km 57.4, near Van Reenen town has now COMMENCED and a TOTAL ROAD CLOSURE is now in effect. All northbound lanes are closed from the Tugela Plaza, while southbound traffic is being stopped at Van Reenen town (i.e. at the Caltex garage).

All vehicles will be stopped at the road closure points until the recovery is complete or the Road Traffic Inspectorate (RTI) deems it safe to start releasing traffic. The recovery of the extremely heavy transformer is a challenging operation and is expected to take an extended period of time. Road users are warned to continue to expect heavy traffic backlogs, congestion and extensive delays in the vicinity of Van Reenen Pass. If at all possible, please delay your trips to this area until further notice. Kindly remain patient, and adhere to all warnings and instructions of law enforcement officials. “N3TC appreciates the understanding of all road users, and the sterling support received thus from our partners from the road incident management system (RIMS).”

Follow @N3Route on X for regular, verified traffic updates, or call the 24-hour N3 Helpline on 0800 63 43 57 to report any emergencies while travelling on the N3 Toll Route between Cedara in KwaZulu-Natal and Heidelberg in Gauteng.

Thursday, 16 January 2025 @ 12:50

Heavy duty cranes have arrived at the scene of yesterday’s abnormal load truck incident at N3 6X 57.4, near Van Reenen town, and are busy establishing in order to commence with the recovery of the dropped transformer.

ALL SOUTHBOUND LANES (towards Durban) are NOW CLOSED to traffic. During the establishment phase, traffic will be accommodated via a STOP/GO control in a single northbound lane. The actual recovery of the transformer will only commence after the cranes have been securely established. At that point, a TOTAL ROAD CLOSURE will come into effect at the site of the earlier crash.

Road users are warned to continue to expect extensive traffic disruptions for an extended period of time. Please continue to approach the area with extra caution and pay careful attention to advance warnings, safety instructions from law enforcement officials, and road closure signs.

Follow @N3Route on X for regular, verified traffic updates, or call the 24-hour N3 Helpline on 0800 63 43 57 to report any emergencies while travelling on the N3 Toll Route between Cedara in KwaZulu-Natal and Heidelberg in Gauteng.

Wednesday, 15 January 2025 @ 17:45

ONE LANE IN EACH DIRECTION IS NOW OPEN to traffic following the successful recovery of the overturned horse and trailer after this morning’s abnormal load truck incident near Van Reenen town, at N3 6X 57.4.

However, both the north- and southbound fast lanes remain obstructed while recovery teams await the arrival of specialist equipment and additional technical resources to recover the extremely heavy transformer. As a result, traffic flow along Van Reenen Pass will remain disrupted for an extended period of time.

Road users are to approach the area with extra caution, and they should be especially careful at night or during adverse weather, when visibility is poor. Please pay attention to advance warnings and adhere to safety instructions and road signage.

Follow @N3Route on X for real-time, verified route and traffic updates, or call the 24-hour N3 Helpline on 0800 63 43 57 to report problems or obtain emergency assistance on the N3 Toll Route between Cedara in KwaZulu-Natal and Heidelberg in Gauteng.

Wednesday, 15 January 2025 @ 14:15

Recovery specialists have commenced with the recovery of the overturned horse and trailer from the northbound carriageway of the N3 Toll Route near Van Reenen (N3 6X 57.4).

Road users are warned to be prepared for intermittent road closures and ongoing traffic disruptions while emergency service teams are attending to the scene. Law enforcement officials are deployed on Van Reenen Pass to assist with traffic accommodation.

Please adhere to all safety warnings and instructions.

Due to its nature, specialised equipment and highly technical resources are required to recover the dropped transformer. It is unlikely that recovery of the transformer will commence today. Road users should, therefore, expect traffic flow along Van Reenen Pass to be disrupted for an extended period of time.

N3TC appeals to road users to exercise utmost caution in this area. “Windy conditions and thunderstorms are being forecast for this afternoon. Driving conditions will also become even more difficult at night. Please reduce your speed, keep an eye on the weather, remain patient, and adopt a defensive driving style,” requests Thania Dhoogra, chief operating officer of N3TC. “We rely on everyone’s cooperation to reduce the risk of secondary crashes or further complications on this section of the N3 Toll Route”.

For verified updates, follow @N3Route on X or contact the 24-hour N3 Helpline on 0800 63 43 57 for assistance or to report problems on the N3 Toll Route between Cedara in KwaZulu-Natal and Heidelberg in Gauteng.

Wednesday, 15 January 2025 @ 11:00

Road users are warned to expect congestion and traffic delays on Van Reenen Pass due to an abnormal load truck which has overturned and lost its load – a transformer.

It is obstructing the northbound carriageway of the N3 Toll Route near Van Reenen town (N3 6X 57.4). Contra-flow traffic accommodation has been implemented on the southbound carriageway. Emergency services are on the scene awaiting the assistance of expert recovery teams, and the dispatch of heavy duty cranes to assist with the clearing of the scene. Due to the size and weight of the transformer and truck, recovery is expected to be a complicated and slow process. N3TC advises road users to plan ahead for intermittent total road closures and extensive delays along Van Reenen Pass today. Please approach the area with caution.

For verified updates, follow @N3Route on X or contact the 24-hour N3 Helpline on 0800 63 43 57 for assistance or to report problems on the N3 Toll Route between Cedara in KwaZulu-Natal and Heidelberg in Gauteng.