Bayhead roadworks causes truck congestion leading to the Durban Port

Roadworks on Bayhead Road have created a ripple effect of truck congestion on the road leading to the Durban Port. 

On Wednesday, heavy-duty and articulated trucks, as well as trucks carrying shipping containers, were double-parked on Umbilo Road and also at the South Coast Road Junction. Durban Metro Police officers could be seen at major intersections leading to Bayhead Road, attempting to prevent gridlock.  A communique by Transnet  National Port Authority (TNPA) on Wednesday, advised stakeholders that the plan to lay asphalt at the Bayhead/Langeberg Intersection had been suspended for Thursday, 11 September 2025.

“Due to the high number of delays experienced on operations, the project team will now search for another date for this occupation. All work on the 10th September will be during the daylight periods of 7am to 6pm, this also depends on the curing period,” the TNPA stated. 

On Monday, TNPA responded to the congestion and complaints by the community relating to the staging of trucks along Shepstone Street, Victoria Embankment, and surrounding areas. The TNPA urged all terminal operators to implement and enforce the Traffic Management plans, which include:

• The proper use of designated truck staging areas
• The structural and scheduled calling out of trucks into the Port
• Ensuring that trucks do not stage or queue illegally on public roads, obstructing traffic, or creating hazards for road users. 

The Port further advised that Metro Police will be enforcing traffic regulations in the affected areas to safeguard public road users.  

The Bayhead Road Rehabilitation Project enters the second phase of construction, focusing on the crucial outbound carriageway from the Shell Garage to the Rotterdam Intersection, as well as the inbound carriageway from Wagtail to the Langeberg Intersection. 

Current construction activities include the removal of ageing asphalt and the laying down of new Bitumen-Stabilised Material (BSM) base and asphalt layers. Additional upgrades involve the cleaning and repair of kerbs, channels, and stormwater manholes.

A source close to the project stated that during the roadworks and pouring of asphalt, lanes are closed off and traffic is diverted. The source said lanes are reduced to one in each direction while roadworks are underway and this leads to intermittent congestion and a backlog of trucks. 

The source added that there is a dedicated team of Metro police on scene throughout the day. He said the lane closures and diversions are impacting traffic but a tow truck was also on hand to move any trucks that had mechanical problems, which also causes congestion. He said some trucks overheat because of the time they spend in slow-moving traffic and that this week alone, ten trucks were towed away to safe areas to prevent congestion.

Nkumbuzi Ben-Mazwi, the TNPA acting Port Manager for the Durban port, said that since its commencement in June 2025, the project has advanced seamlessly from Phase 1 into Phase 2, with construction activities proceeding efficiently with minimal disruption to port logistics operations.

"The Bayhead Road Rehabilitation Project is a catalyst for improved port efficiency and logistics reliability at the Port of Durban. As one of the country’s most important trade gateways, infrastructure modernisation of this nature is critical to supporting economic growth by safeguarding cargo flows and reinforcing South Africa’s position in the global supply chain," said Ben-Mazwi. 

Ian Campbell-Gillies, representing the Umbilo Business Association (UBA), said that they had pointed out that the UBA Truck Staging Plans could significantly cut congestion to Bayhead and in turn improve shipping turn around times.

zainul.dawood@inl.co.za