Ladysmith commuters are preparing for renewed travel disruptions as the South African National Roads Agency (SANRAL) begins work at the N11’s Limit Hill intersection. 1st Avenue will close to allow intersection upgrades, with the heaviest construction activity expected during the first three weeks of an eight-week programme.
The roadworks are set to kick off on Friday, 20 February 2026.
Drivers and residents are being directed to use 3rd Avenue for access to and from the Limit Hill area while the closure remains in place.
Although temporary road closures have become familiar during the broader N11 rehabilitation, the latest phase is expected to place additional pressure on local traffic, particularly during peak commuting hours.
The intersection upgrade forms part of a wider, multi-year rehabilitation project that has been underway for a few years.
As previously reported by Newcastillian News in March 2024, SANRAL’s Eastern Region Project Manager confirmed that work between Ladysmith South and the Nkunzi River includes widening sections of the carriageway, adding climbing lanes for heavy vehicles, realigning hazardous bends and upgrading drainage infrastructure — interventions aimed at addressing safety concerns and increasing traffic capacity on a route carrying growing commuter and freight volumes.
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Phase 1 of the project, spanning Ladysmith to Elandslaagte, got underway, and was valued at approximately R865 million.
As the time, Phase 2, covering Elandslaagte to the Nkunzi River, remained in the final stages of contractor procurement. The scale of the project has required phased implementation, resulting in periodic disruptions as construction advances.
By April 2024, temporary traffic deviations intended to ease future construction were still incomplete due to stakeholder negotiations and logistical challenges, reducing lane availability in parts of Ladysmith’s CBD.
Further disruptions followed in October 2025 when SANRAL imposed a three-day full closure of the N11 between the R103/N11 intersection and Van der Stel Street to stabilise lanes. Stop-and-go systems were ruled out because of restricted lane widths, forcing traffic to detour via the R103. Shortly afterwards, a northbound closure on Lyell Street was introduced to allow construction of a Junction Control Point — another traffic management measure tied to the ongoing upgrade.
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While SANRAL has highlighted economic spin-offs from the project, including subcontracting opportunities and job creation, the ongoing works have also required residents and businesses to adapt to shifting traffic patterns and repeated construction phases.
Reporting in November 2024 indicated that approximately 850 full-time-equivalent jobs had been linked to the project, with nearly R200 million directed to local contractors.
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Construction progress continued into late 2025, with permanent works advancing alongside temporary traffic arrangements. Upgrades include reconstruction of key bridges, reinforcement of embankments with gabion baskets and retaining walls, and improvements to stormwater systems — works intended to strengthen the route’s long-term resilience.
Addressing the latest closure, SANRAL stated: “SANRAL and the contractor apologise for the inconvenience this disruption may cause and thank residents for their patience and cooperation while these important road improvements are carried out.” The agency maintains that temporary disruptions remain necessary to complete the long-term rehabilitation of the corridor.
As of early 2026, Phase 1 — covering approximately 28 km between Ladysmith South and Elandslaagte — is reported to be around 54% complete.
However, the overall project extending to the Nkunzi River has seen its anticipated completion date shift from late 2026 to January 2027, largely due to heavy rainfall, unforeseen sub-surface conditions and stakeholder-related stoppages.
With the project now moving into another critical phase, residents can expect continued adjustments to daily travel routines as work advances.
The broader rehabilitation aims to deliver a safer and more efficient corridor, but the route to completion is likely to involve further short-term disruptions before the long-term benefits materialise.
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Do not forget to read, R74 Oliviershoek Pass Sinkholes in the Northern Drakensberg Spark Urgent Calls for SANRAL Takeover, if you missed it.
The closure allows SANRAL to upgrade the Limit Hill intersection as part of the ongoing rehabilitation of the N11 corridor.
The closure is scheduled to run for eight weeks, with the most intensive work expected during the first three weeks.
Motorists are being advised to use 3rd Avenue for access to and from the Limit Hill area during the closure.
The broader rehabilitation project is currently expected to be completed by January 2027.
2 Responses
Please ensure that your people asses the roads thoroughly before going home as I have now hit 3 chevron black metal bottom pieces laying on the roads casually which has damaged my car significantly
So what route is recommended through Ladysmith to Durban?