With the anticipation of an increase in traffic volumes during the Women’s Day long weekend (8 to 11 August) the N3 Toll Concession (N3TC) has all its teams on high alert.

The N3TC is responsible for a 415km portion of the N3 between Cedara Interchange near Hilton, in KwaZulu-Natal and the Heidelberg South Interchange in Gauteng.  To ensure that motorists experience maximum convenience during their long weekend journeys, all toll plazas will be operating at full capacity and N3TC’s Route Services will all, as always, be on hand to assist motorists in the event of a breakdown, crash or incident that could impact on the flow of traffic.

It is anticipated that traffic volumes will increase from around midday on Thursday, 8 August, and continue into the evening.  Traffic volumes are expected to pick up again early on Friday morning tapering off around midday on Friday afternoon.  The bulk of this traffic is expected to be travelling southbound (towards the coast). Traffic volumes are expected to pick up again on Sunday, 11 August, from late morning and again continuing into the evening. The majority of this traffic will be travelling Northbound towards Johannesburg..

Reports of snow are also being monitored by N3TC, but according to Snow Report (www.snowreport.co.za or @SnowReportSA) it appears that the majority of the forecasted snow will occur in the Northern Cape; Western Cape; Lesotho and the upper regions of the Drakensberg. At this stage it appears unlikely snow will occur in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands or in the vicinity of Van Reenen.

However, in preparation for possible snow, N3TC has established a snow protocol that will initiate all emergency services and operations should it affect traffic flow on the N3 Toll Route.

It is advisable that in the event of snow resulting in a closure of the N3 Toll Route, road users should delay their journeys until it is declared safe to travel by the relevant authorities. Road users should keep themselves informed by tuning into relevant television and radio news channels as well as keeping abreast of traffic alerts and weather updates.  Additional information relating specifically to the N3 Toll Route can be obtained by following N3TC’s Twitter feed @N3Route. The N3TC 24/7 Customer Careline is also available if road users require assistance while travelling on the N3 Toll Route: 0800 N3 HELP (0800 63 4357)

Con Roux, commercial manager of N3TC, says, “We recommend that for this long weekend, road users should pack extra blankets, refreshments and essential items as a precautionary measure and we urge motorists to switch on their headlights, increase their following distance and drive responsibly, so that everyone can get to their destinations safely.”