Transnet completes Bayhead Road rehabilitation ahead of schedule, enhancing Durban's port efficiency

Transnet announces completion of rehabilitation of Bayhead Road in Durban a month ahead of schedule and in time for the festive season has been welcomed by experts. Transnet said that this would improve port efficiency and reduce road congestion.

Transnet said this will allow for seamless cargo movement for South African consumers. “The project, which commenced in June 2025  was planned for six months, eases traffic congestion by providing seamless access to port terminals, warehouses and industrial facilities. Bayhead Road connects the Port of Durban to the national road network, thus supporting efficient supply chains and bolstering the country’s trade competitiveness. This key route directly enhances port operational efficiency and contributes substantially to industrial growth as well as global trade connectivity.”

Transnet added that the R76 million refurbishment has made the road durable to the estimated 13,000 vehicles that travel the route daily with built-in resistance to cracking and deformation. “This enhancement significantly extends the road’s design lifespan and reduces long-term maintenance costs.”

Mpumi Dweba-Kwetana, Port Manager at the Port of Durban, said that they are looking forward to seeing South Africa’s logistics sector enjoying the benefits of this road infrastructure development. “The successful execution of this project reinforces our commitment to deliver on the business-wide Reinvent for Growth strategy, by creating value for our port users through seamless cargo flow. Key to this success is collaboration with our stakeholders.”

Allison Schoeman, the chairperson Bluff Ratepayers and Residents Association, said they acknowledge the completion of the Bayhead Road rehabilitation project ahead of schedule and recognise the operational efficiencies this may provide to the Port of Durban’s logistics network. “Any infrastructure investment that strengthens the city’s economic backbone is, in principle, welcomed.”

Schoeman added that as Bluff residents, they remain cautiously optimistic. “For years, heavy-duty vehicles have stacked along Edwin Swales, effectively reducing a three-lane arterial road to a single lane. The lived reality for our community is that traffic congestion on Edwin Swales Drive (Solomon Mahlangu) continues to pose a severe and persistent risk to mobility, safety, and quality of life. If access along Edwin Swales remains open to container depots — including the entrances to Steinweg and the logistics facilities further along the corridor — it is unlikely that Bluff residents will experience the intended benefits of this upgrade.”

Malcolm Hartwell, a director and master mariner at Norton Rose Fulbright, said in recent months they have seen a number of announcements from Transnet regarding equipment delivery and a general improvement in port operations. “The positive developments of the last year have seen a considerable improvement in port operations, ship turnaround time and more efficient delivery of import and export containers. These developments are being welcomed by everybody.”

Hartwell added that the plethora of problems within Transnet that developed over the last few decades and caused enormous harm to South Africa’s logistics infrastructure, businesses, consumers and the economy had multiple causes. “As with any complex chain, the logistics chain is only as strong and efficient as its weakest links. One of the weakest links which affected the entire logistics sector was access to and from Durban port for road hauliers delivering or fetching containers.”

Hartwell said the recent announcement will accordingly be welcomed by everybody and possibly most welcomed by truck drivers. “This will reduce and may clear the Bayhead congestion, but may result in congestion elsewhere in the chain between eThekwini and Gauteng. We are however optimistic that the new Transnet will continue to identify problems and, more importantly, deal with them urgently.

Hartwell added that given that it has been completed a month ahead of deadline, the retailers involved in luring consumers into their stores for Christmas and Black Friday deals will be extremely happy. “It was only a few years ago that importers found that their Christmas products would only get to market in the new year because of the port, road and rail problems. The new Transnet Board under its new CEO and driven by its senior managers is on the right track and hopefully this trend will continue for the next few years.”

Professor Bonke Dumisa, an independent economic analyst, said  the congestion of the roads on the N3 and along the Bayhead Road costs Durban and the KwaZulu- Natal economy a lot of money, especially when the trucks carrying valuable cargo miss delivery times and penalties have to be paid. “Hence, the rehabilitation of the Bayhead Road will help speed things up at the Durban Port. This will be good news for many people who are directly and/or indirectly affected by such congestion near the Durban Port.”

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