On the night of September 21, 2026, the traffic along the MK section of South Africa's National Highway 3 remained dense. Outside the streetlights, a row of cone-shaped buckets are arranged along the lane, and warning lights mark a temporary passage; The roar of the milling machine drowned out the sound of tire friction, and the paving machine followed closely behind. The hot asphalt emitted white steam in the night. The upgrade project of the MK section of National Highway 3, jointly undertaken by China Communications Construction Corporation South Africa Branch and South African comprehensive engineering enterprise WSM, has reached a critical milestone, and the asphalt maintenance and repair project of the main road has officially started.

The golden passage under the night sky

South Africa's National Highway 3 is over 500 kilometers long, connecting the busiest container hub in Africa, Durban Port, on one end and the economic center of Gauteng Province centered around Johannesburg on the other. It is the most central economic artery in South Africa and even southern Africa. The total length of South African highways exceeds 700000 kilometers, ranking first in Africa. This large mixed passenger and freight corridor has the highest carrying density, and congestion is particularly prominent during holidays and accident periods. In recent years, National Highway No. 3 has been expanded and renovated in sections and stages according to its length. Several Chinese companies have participated in the construction of different sections along the route, and the MK section has been jointly implemented by China Communications Construction Corporation and WSM. This project is not only a landmark project of infrastructure cooperation between China and Africa, but also the largest road renovation and expansion project awarded by the South African National Highways Authority SANRAL to date, and is listed as a comprehensive national strategic project in South Africa.

Extreme homework within a few hours

To minimize interference with this golden passage, according to SANRAL's strict regulations, all mainline maintenance operations are limited to nighttime and mobile lane closures are implemented. At night, the visibility is limited, and large machinery and construction personnel need to work in close proximity to high-speed traffic, which puts unprecedented pressure on traffic control. The team must complete the entire process of sawing, milling, slag removal, spreading adhesive oil, asphalt paving, and compaction of the original road surface within a few hours, and ensure that the site is cleared and traffic is restored within the specified time. The rigid bottom line of milling and laying, with zero residual excavation area, puts forward extreme requirements for material scheduling, process connection, and emergency response.

After the first victory

Facing the harsh environment and the first night trial store test, the project management team strictly benchmarked against the South African COTO standards, accurately controlled each link, scientifically deployed traffic guidance and night lighting, achieved seamless connection between front-end construction operations and back-end material transportation, and successfully achieved the first victory. This mainline maintenance is a leading project for the comprehensive upgrade and renovation of the entire line, aiming to prioritize the elimination of serious road surface diseases and lay a solid foundation for the subsequent large-scale renovation and expansion, ensuring smooth traffic and transportation. After the upgrade of the relevant road sections is completed, both traffic efficiency and driving safety will be improved synchronously, and freight time and transportation costs are expected to significantly decrease.keywords:Engineering infrastructure

From a broader perspective, the smooth launch of night maintenance this time has not only improved the safety of existing road traffic and ensured the progress of the main project, but also demonstrated the on-site organizational ability and technical strength of Chinese enterprises in high standard international norms and complex construction environments. The project continues to create jobs and promote skills transfer for the local people. It is taking practical actions to add a new footnote to the high-quality joint construction of the the Belt and Road.Editor/Yang Meiling