The N3 Durban-bound lane at Van Reenen has been reopened. This after truck drivers intensified their national strike against the employment of foreign nationals and the fuel hike on Thursday morning.
The disgruntled truck drivers blocked the road in both directions on Van Reenen's Pass and at Tugela Plaza on Thursday morning.
Just after 3.20 pm N3 Toll Concession tweeted that while the N3 Durban bound lane was re-opened, the Joburg-bound lanes were still closed.
15h19 16/06 #TrafficAlert: #Obstruction #VanReenenPass #Durbanbound lanes have been reopened. Recovery operations on the #JoburgBound are still in progress. Please approach the area with caution.
— N3 Toll Concession (@N3Route) June 16, 2022
Thania Dhoogra, operations manager at N3 Toll Concession who said that law enforcement authorities are on scene.
Dhoogra said the KZN Road Traffic Inspectorate (RTI) was directing northbound traffic off the N3 at the Colenso/Frere interchange.
“N3TC recommends that road users delay their trips to area. Heavy traffic congestion and delays may be experienced in both directions on the N3 Toll Route,” said Dhoogra.
The truck drivers had confirmed that they would be embarking on a nation wide truck shut down from Tuesday to Friday this week.
KZN Provincial police spokesperson Brigadier Jay Naicker said several trucks were used to block the N3 near Windy Corner, Van Reenen.
Naicker said the keys of the vehicles are not available as the drivers have parked the vehicles and fled the scene.
He said traffic is backed up in both directions as traffic authorities are diverting it in alternative routes.
“Police are on scene and attempts are being made to tow those vehicles that are causing the blockage. The police will also be investigating this matter and are confident that the perpetrators will be traced and arrested at a later stage,” said Naicker.