Mount Edgecombe Interchange

Mount Edgecombe Interchange
Mount Edgecombe Interchange
Location
	Mount Edgecombe/uMhlanga, South Africa
Coordinates	29°43′24.33″S31°3′29.04″E / 29.7234250°S 31.0580667°E
Roads at; junction	N2 ; M41
Construction
Type	Four-level Interchange
Spans	2
Lanes	2-3
Constructed	by CMC di Ravenna (renovation)
Maintained by	South African National Roads Agency

Last updated November 15, 2024

The Mount Edgecombe Interchange, is a major freeway interchange located between Mount Edgecombe and uMhlanga in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. It is the junction between the N2 and M41 freeways and underwent a major upgrade to relieve the increasing traffic congestion in the area.

Roads

The N2 is a national route running north–south from the King Shaka International Airport and KwaDukuza towards Durban and Port Shepstone.^[1] The M41 is a metropolitan route running east–west from the M4 in uMhlanga towards the R102 between Mount Edgecombe and Phoenix.^{[ citation needed ]}

Design

A key feature of the project is its two incrementally launched bridges: one, spanning 948 meters, connects the Mount Edgecombe side of the M41 to the N2 South and stands as the longest incrementally launched bridge in South Africa; the second, 440 meters long, links the uMhlanga side of the M41 to the N2 North.^[2]

Upgrade

Aerial view of the old diamond interchange of the Mount Edgecombe Interchange UmhlangaKZN-Aerial.jpg — Aerial view of the old diamond interchange of the Mount Edgecombe Interchange

Prior to the upgrade of the Mount Edgecombe Interchange, the interchange was a diamond interchange with traffic lights, and included a loop ramp connecting the M41 eastbound carriageway with the N2 South. The growth of the uMhlanga Ridge and La Lucia Ridge areas had pushed the existing diamond interchange to its capacity, resulting in traffic backing up on the M41 and spilling onto the N2 during peak hours. With around 40,000 additional vehicles joining or exiting the N2 from the M41 each day, significant queuing occurred throughout the day. Anticipated future development in Cornubia (north of Mount Edgecombe and west of uMhlanga) further emphasised the need to upgrade the interchange to enhance traffic flow between the N2, M41, and surrounding roads.^[3]

To address the congestion issue at the interchange, the upgrade of the Mount Edgecombe Interchange began in April 2013 and involved converting the existing diamond interchange into a free-flow, four-level interchange.^[4]

The project was funded through a collaboration between SANRAL and the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Transport, with construction carried out by the South African branch of the Italian company CMC di Ravenna. On 30 October 2018, the upgraded interchange was officially opened by then Minister of Transport, Blade Nzimande.^[5]

With the conversion of the interchange to a completely free-flowing system with limited stops, it is expected that travel time between the areas the interchange connects will now be significantly reduced from 25 minutes to one minute on average.^[6]

Related Research Articles

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KwaDukuza, previously known as Stanger, is a town in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. In 2006, the municipal name was changed to KwaDukuza, but the Zulu people in the area called it "Dukuza" well before then.

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Mount Edgecombe or Mt Edgecombe is a town in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, situated just north of Durban, which forms part of eThekwini, the Greater Durban Metropolitan area. Much of the suburb is cordoned off as a gated settlement comprising resorts, golf courses and a retirement home. It was previously a sugar growing area. The population increased by 89% between 2001 and 2011 from 3,874 to 7,323. Its name is derived from Mount Edgcumbe House in Cornwall, England, the family seat of the Earls of Mount Edgcumbe.

oThongathi Place in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

oThongathi, previously and still commonly known as Tongaat, is a town in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, about 40 kilometres (25 mi) north of Durban and 28 kilometres (17 mi) south of KwaDukuza. It now forms part of eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality, or the Greater Durban area. The area is home to the oldest Indian community in South Africa, having been where the first indentured Indian laborers settled in 1860 to work in the sugar-cane plantations. Much of the architectural style in the town was the work of Ivan Mitford-Barberton, and many buildings are in the Cape Dutch style of architecture.

eMdloti, alternatively rendered Umdloti and also known as Umdloti Beach, is a small resort village situated along the KwaZulu-Natal North Coast, South Africa. It lies at the mouth of the Mdloti River approximately 24 km north-east of Durban and 11 km north-east of uMhlanga and now forms part of eThekwini, the Greater Durban Metropolitan Municipality.

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uMhlanga, KwaZulu-Natal Town in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

uMhlanga, alternatively rendered Umhlanga, is a residential, commercial and resort town north of Durban on the coast of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. It is part of the eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality, which was created in 2000 and includes the greater Durban area. The name means "place of reeds" in the Zulu language, and the correct pronunciation of "hl" in uMhlanga is similar to the Welsh "ll".

La Lucia is a wealthy suburb located in uMhlanga in the KwaZulu-Natal province of South Africa and is situated approximately 14 kilometres north of the Durban CBD. It was named after Lucia Michel. She and her husband Albert Michel founded the sugar cane farm La Lucia.

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The KwaZulu-Natal North Coast, better known as the North Coast is a coastal region north of Durban in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. It stretches from Zinkwazi Beach in the north to Zimbali near Ballito in the south. The coastal region is governed by the KwaDukuza Local Municipality, forming part of the iLembe District Municipality.

The M5 is a long metropolitan route in the eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality, South Africa. It starts in KwaMashu in the north-western townships of Durban. It passes through the townships of Newlands East, Newlands West, Ntuzuma and KwaDabeka. It then passes through the industrial town of New Germany and the leafy towns of Pinetown and Queensburgh before entering Durban and ending in the Umbilo industrial area.

The M41 is a metropolitan route in the eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality, South Africa linking uMhlanga to Mount Edgecombe and Phoenix, north of the city of Durban.

Sibaya Casino and Entertainment Kingdom is an entertainment complex situated just north of uMhlanga and south-west of eMdloti on the North Coast of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.

Westbrook, also known as Westbrook Beach is a coastal village on the North Coast of the KwaZulu-Natal province of South Africa, approximately 35 kilometres (22 mi) north-east of Durban and 7 kilometres (4 mi) east of oThongathi.

References

↑ Falkner, John (May 2012). South African Numbered Route Description and Destination Analysis (Report). National Department of Transport. pp. 7–12. Archived from the original on 6 June 2014. Retrieved 27 January 2014.
↑ "The R1.14bn Mount Edgecombe Interchange has officially opened".
↑ SANRAL (2018-11-21). "Minister officially opens iconic Mt Edgecombe Interchange". SANRAL Stop Over. Retrieved 2024-10-18.
↑ "Mt Edgecombe Interchange". SMEC. Retrieved 2024-10-18.
↑ "Nzimande inaugurates R1.1bn Mt Edgecombe interchange".
↑ Rangongo, Timothy (2018-11-01). "Durban just launched a R1.14 billion highway interchange – with 4 levels and Africa's longest flyover bridge". www.news24.com.

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[1] Falkner, John (May 2012). South African Numbered Route Description and Destination Analysis (Report). National Department of Transport. pp. 7–12. Archived from the original on 6 June 2014. Retrieved 27 January 2014.

[2] "The R1.14bn Mount Edgecombe Interchange has officially opened".

[3] SANRAL (2018-11-21). "Minister officially opens iconic Mt Edgecombe Interchange". SANRAL Stop Over. Retrieved 2024-10-18.

[4] "Mt Edgecombe Interchange". SMEC. Retrieved 2024-10-18.

[5] "Nzimande inaugurates R1.1bn Mt Edgecombe interchange".

[6] Rangongo, Timothy (2018-11-01). "Durban just launched a R1.14 billion highway interchange – with 4 levels and Africa's longest flyover bridge". www.news24.com.

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