LOOK: PMB landfill fire chokes the N3, freeway closed
The N3 in Pietermaritzburg is now closed to all vehicles.
Thick smoke has blanketed the area and parts of the busy freeway on Friday morning, with motorists experiencing zero visibility.
The fire smog's coming from the New England landfill fire, which started on Monday.
Road Traffic Inspectorate (RTI) spokesperson, Zinhle Mngomezulu says the freeway's been closed from New England Road - where the dump is situated and old Main Road in PMB.
She says there've been some fender benders, adding that traffic's being diverted.
"From Alan Paton Road and back to the freeway by the old Howick Road, that is in the Hilton area."
She says there's a backlog in the CBD.
READ: Concerns of trespassing on PMB landfill fire site
"Trucks proceeding towards Durban are stacked there, however truck proceeding towards Johannesburg are going through the CBD. There is going to be a backlog log of traffic in that area.
"We anticipate to open the road very very soon, as soon as the smoke dissipates," says Mngomezulu.
The N3 between Liberty Mall to Market Road in Pietermaritzburg has closed because of smoke density from the New England landfill fire. @ecr9495 | Video: Supplied pic.twitter.com/diovRrUrdf
— ECR_Newswatch (@ECR_Newswatch) July 24, 2020
(Update) 97204 : (Poor visibility) Due to smoke, N3 between Market rd I/C and Chatterton I/C. Drive carefully. https://t.co/5ZFR9ZHWlA pic.twitter.com/VTcbVU9gap
— i-traffic KZN (@i_trafficKZN) July 24, 2020
(Ongoing) Congestion; N3 DBN Bound between Hilton I/C and New England Road I/C; Expect delays. https://t.co/5ZFR9ZHWlA pic.twitter.com/wJFoZ87eFD
— i-traffic KZN (@i_trafficKZN) July 24, 2020
#N3closed The N3 highway near Pietermaritzburg has been closed, trucks are being pulled over while vehicles are being redirected. pic.twitter.com/MY4lGw0S0s
— Road Traffic Management Corporation (At 🏠) (@TrafficRTMC) July 24, 2020
