Motorists travelling along the N11 near Ladysmith can expect controlled delays from Tuesday, 1 September 2026, as the South African National Roads Agency (SANRAL) begins installing temporary rumble strips within the active construction zone.
The traffic-calming measures will be accompanied by Stop/Go operations at several points along N11 Section 2, with SANRAL indicating that the intervention follows concerns over motorists continuing to travel at high speeds through the construction area.
SANRAL KwaZulu-Natal Project Manager Trevor Zumani explained that construction of various temporary deviations is already underway along the route as work progresses on the broader N11 project.
“The Contractor has begun with the construction of various temporary deviations along the N11 route thus far,” said Zumani.
According to SANRAL, the temporary rumble strips will be installed at the following locations in both the northbound and southbound directions:
- Km 45+000 and Km 42+000
- Km 34+000 and Km 32+000
- Km 35+000 and Km 33+000
- Km 40+000 and Km 39+000
Traffic will be managed through Stop/Go controls while installation takes place.
“The stop/go operation will entail half-width construction in each direction of traffic flow, and shall be swapped onto the opposite direction to complete the section of work,” SANRAL explained.
Motorists have consequently been advised to allow additional travelling time, with anticipated delays of approximately 15 to 30 minutes during peak periods and 10 to 15 minutes during off-peak periods.
While the delays are temporary, the intervention is aimed specifically at reducing vehicle speeds where motorists and construction teams continue to operate within the same road environment.
“SANRAL appreciates the public’s patience and cooperation as it undertakes this vital road safety feature of temporary calming measures. We appeal to road users to note and comply with the advance warning signs and speed restrictions when travelling through the construction work zones,” concluded Zumani.
The latest traffic measures form part of substantially larger works currently taking place along the N11 corridor around Ladysmith.
As previously reported by Newcastillian News, the upgrade programme includes widening portions of the roadway, additional climbing lanes, road realignments, improved stormwater infrastructure and bridge works aimed at improving the safety and capacity of the route.
In July 2026, SANRAL confirmed to Newcastillian News that Phase 1 of the N11 upgrade between Ladysmith South and Elandslaagte had reached approximately 76% completion as of June.
That section extends roughly 28 kilometres from Ladysmith South to Elandslaagte and includes four major bridges. Two had already been completed at the time of SANRAL’s update, including the Barend Marais-spruit bridge, while construction remained underway at the Pepworth bridge.
The Pepworth development is particularly significant as the new road-over-rail bridge is intended to remove a problematic curve from the existing alignment at an area previously identified for serious collisions.
SANRAL also confirmed at the time that work was progressing on the widening of the N11 and Provincial Road P32 intersection to improve traffic movement between Ladysmith and surrounding communities.
Beyond the current construction zone, SANRAL’s work along the N11 is set to extend further north.
Official agency procurement records show that periodic maintenance has separately been planned for approximately 36.1 kilometres of N11 Section 3, stretching from the Nkunzi River to Alcockspruit across parts of the uThukela and Amajuba districts.
The project involves engineering services for the periodic maintenance of this section of the national route, further demonstrating the broader attention being given to the N11 corridor through northern KwaZulu-Natal.
This follows the ongoing upgrade of N11 Section 2 between Elandslaagte and the Nkunzi River, covering approximately 19.8 kilometres. SANRAL’s official contract records confirm that this section forms part of a separate major upgrade programme.
For motorists using the N11 from 1 September, however, the immediate consideration will be the additional travelling time created by the Stop/Go operations.
Road users are therefore encouraged to reduce speed through the construction zones, comply with temporary traffic controls and allow up to 30 minutes of additional travelling time during peak periods.
Be sure to travel safe and do not forget to read: Medical Aid Is Getting Costlier, Yet South Africans Still Pay Billions Out of Pocket
