Traffic Advisory Update

The South African National Roads Agency SOC Limited (SANRAL) is pleased to announce the commencement of construction of the Kokstad interchange and traffic control centre. The project which was scheduled to start on Wednesday, 1 September 2021, began on time, as projected. The contract period is 30 Months with the completion date being early 2024.

The project consists of the construction of a standard interchange with two on- and two off-ramps linking the N2 to the R56. The new alignment of the R56 will pass over the N2 via the new Kokstad Interchange Overpass. In addition to this overpass, one river bridge will be widened, seven cast in-situ culverts will be constructed to provide river crossings and an agricultural underpass will be constructed. The project also includes the construction of a new Traffic Control Centre.

For the convenience of the travelling public, an attempt will be made to have two lanes open to traffic at all times. To cater for this, the project has been divided into four stages of construction, the first of which was scheduled to commence on 1 September 2021. For the purpose of the installation of traffic control facilities, short-duration STOP/GO traffic accommodation will be implemented during daylight hours.

During stage 1, traffic will be accommodated on the existing N2 and transferred to the R56 via a temporary link with a T-junction on the R56. In order to construct the link and T-junction, traffic travelling between Port Shepstone and Mthatha will be diverted from the N2 to the existing T-junction on the R56 leading to Kokstad and Mthatha. During this stage, the temporary link will be constructed and the existing N2 will be widened to accommodate two-way traffic. On the R56, the existing lanes will be reduced in width to make provision for the construction of the lane widening to accommodate the turning lane and bell mouth at the T junction Intersection. It is estimated that the construction of this stage will take three weeks.

Once this stage has been completed, a temporary bypass will be constructed on the right-hand side of the N2 at Km 7.2 to accommodate traffic in two lanes while the construction of the tie-in at Km 7.2 takes place. During the construction of this bypass, the traffic lane from Port Shepstone to Kokstad will be reduced in width. In addition to this, the traffic lane for traffic travelling from Kokstad to Mthatha will be reduced in width to make provision for the construction of a bypass on the right-hand side of the N2 at Km 5.5.

On completion of the widening of the existing N2 and construction of the T junction and turning lane on the R56, the existing road leading to the Kokstad/Mthatha T-junction, as well as the existing slip road leading from Kokstad to Port Shepstone, will be closed and traffic diverted via the widened N2 and newly constructed link road to the T-junction on the R56. It is anticipated that traffic will be accommodated on this stage until August 2022. The following took place from 31 August 2021.

The below drawing indicates the first stage of the traffic accommodation during the widening of the N2 and construction of the T junction link to the R56 as well as the construction of the required R56 turning lane and bell mouth.

An appeal is made to road users to note and comply with the advance warning signs and speed restrictions when travelling past the construction work zones. Motorists are encouraged to plan their trips accordingly, and to make provision for the additional travel time.