Comrades Marathon: Motorists warned of N3 roadworks, fog and congestion

Runners during last year’s Comrades Marathon passing Tollgate bridge entering Durban. This Sunday’s race is an up run to Pietermaritzburg. Transport authorities have issued an urgent safety advisory to motorists, runners and spectators travelling between Durban and Pietermaritzburg ahead of the 99th Comrades Marathon on Sunday.

This year’s race will be an up run, starting at Durban City Hall and finishing at Scottsville Racecourse in Pietermaritzburg. Authorities have warned that ongoing infrastructure upgrades along the N3 corridor, coupled with winter driving hazards, are expected to result in severe traffic congestion and challenging road conditions throughout the weekend. According to the advisory issued on Thursday, major road construction projects remain active in and around Pietermaritzburg and along several sections of the N3 route.

Motorists have been warned to prepare for delays due to lane reductions and construction-related bottlenecks in multiple areas, including between Heidelberg and Villiers, Warden and Harrismith, Estcourt and Nottingham Road, as well as Paradise Valley and the Westville Viaduct. Drivers have been urged to obey temporary speed limits and all road signage when travelling through construction zones. Authorities have also cautioned that significant congestion is expected around the Scottsville Racecourse precinct, where thousands of runners will complete the race.

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Winter weather conditions are expected to present additional risks for road users. Areas including Van Reenen Pass, Fields Hill, Botha’s Hill and Hilton are known for dense fog during the early morning and late evening hours. Motorists have been advised to reduce speed, increase following distances and use fog lights instead of high-beam headlights in poor visibility conditions.

Drivers travelling before sunrise have also been warned about the possibility of black ice forming on roads, particularly on bridges and in shaded mountain pass sections where temperatures can drop sharply overnight. Authorities further highlighted the dangers of driver fatigue, especially for spectators and support crews who may be travelling after limited sleep. Motorists are encouraged to take regular breaks and stop every two hours or 200 kilometres to reduce fatigue-related risks.

The Comrades Marathon route will be closed to vehicular traffic from early Sunday morning until the race’s 12-hour cut-off period later in the day. While alternative routes, including the N3, will remain open, authorities expect heavy traffic volumes throughout the day. Spectators have been encouraged to use designated shuttle services, carpool where possible and arrive at their destinations several hours before the start of race activities.

Road Traffic Management Corporation spokesperson Simon Zwane said law enforcement agencies would maintain a strong presence across the road network. “We want this 99th edition of the Comrades Marathon to be safe for everyone. The National Traffic Police, provincial officers, SAPS, and municipal authorities will be deployed heavily across the network to enforce compliance.

We ask for patience, tolerance, and extreme caution from all road users. Do not park illegally along the N3 or obstruct emergency lanes,” said Zwane. For more stories from The Mercury, click the linkTHE MERCURY

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