Cleland Overpass Bridge N3

Historical Significance: Up until the early 60’s the route from Johannesburg to Durban was a winding route on a simple two-lane black top road that ran from town to town. As road and traffic volumes steadily increased in the late 50’s the National Road Agency was tasked by government to upgrade the artery to compensate for the growing number of vehicles travelling between Johannesburg and Durban, and to put in place a development plan that would cater to these needs. Work began on the route in 1961, with the first of 12 sections starting between Durban and Pietermaritzburg, and has continued for four decades as the road was widened and the small towns bypassed. The current upgrades are a continuation of this N3 Corridor Masterplan as part of a wider National Strategic Development Strategy. bridge “The Cleland/Bellevue Overpass Bridge and the Ashburton Overpass were constructed as part of the above in 1962 and 1961 respectivly. They functioned to facilitate access for farming activities between Haymarket/Hayfields, Bellevue, and Cleland (Shortt’s Retreat Farm) and Ashburton East and the R103; where, prior to subsequent suburb development, functioning farms were still in existence. With the demise of farming activities the Cleland Bridge became defunct. In the past two decades the bridge was repeatedly barricaded to pedestrian traffic to diminish the incidences of housebreaking within the burgeoning suburbs, where the bridge route was used as a conduit to escape into the bush in upper Hayfields and lower Bellevue”. *