Road Reopens After Heavy Snow Wreaks Havoc on South African Highway
A major relief has been brought to stranded motorists on the N3 highway in South Africa as the road at Van Reenen’s Pass has been reopened to clear traffic. The South African National Roads Agency (Sanral) and its concessionaire, the N3 Toll Concession (N3TC), made the announcement on Sunday.
According to an official statement, the Road Traffic Inspectorate (RTI) and N3TC route services will now commence to slowly escort stranded road users out of the area in the southbound lanes towards KwaZulu-Natal. Meanwhile, graders and rescue teams are continuing to clear a safe passage for road users stranded in the vicinity of Swinburne and Montrose.
The reopening of the road comes after major routes on the N3 were at a complete standstill due to heavy snow, leaving many motorists stranded. Sanral has advised road users to carefully follow the instructions of rescue teams and road traffic officials once they receive the go-ahead to proceed and drive slowly, and with the utmost caution and care.
Sanral and N3TC have extended their heartfelt gratitude to disaster relief organizations, road incident management teams, humanitarian groups, local farmers, and community associations who provided emergency services and essential aid to stranded motorists. "Your selfless efforts exemplify dedication and compassion in action. You are the real heroes of the N3 Toll Route," said Chief Operating Officer of the N3TC, Thania Dhoogra.
Mona also expressed gratitude to road users who remained patient, vigilant, and compliant under very trying circumstances. "It was a tremendously difficult period for everyone affected, but you have been phenomenal in demonstrating resilience and strong spirit," Dhoogra added.
For regular verified traffic updates, road users can follow @N3Route on X or contact the 24-hour N3 helpline on 0800 63 43 57 for emergency assistance. Updates from SANRAL can also be found on X and Facebook.
