Newlands M3 roadworks: What changes on Monday and who will notice

If you’ve seen the words ‘M3 roadworks’ and braced for a full shutdown, take a breath. From Monday, 16 November 2026, work begins on the Newlands Avenue and Rhodes Avenue intersection and the* City of Cape Town* says the main change for drivers is a partial lane drop on the approach, **Cape {town} Etc **reports.

The works form part of the City’s M3 congestion relief programme, which aims to ease the bottlenecks between Upper Hillwood Road and Newlands Avenue.

What is actually happening on Monday?

According to the City, the lane drop will start about 80m from the intersection. There’s no mention of a full road closure in the City’s announcement for this stretch.

• Location:

  M3

  approach to the Newlands Avenue and Rhodes Avenue intersection, Newlands

  Times:

  10:00 to 15:00 on working days, from Monday, 16 November 2026 to 21 January 2027, if the schedule holds

Why midday matters

Because the intersection works are scheduled for 10:00 to 15:00 on working days, they sit outside the usual morning and afternoon rush. That means the people most likely to notice them aren’t necessarily the 07:00 commuters. Think about who is on the road in the middle of the day:

• School pick-up parents:

  early-afternoon runs could overlap with the end of the works window, so leave a little earlier than usual.

• Delivery drivers and tradespeople:

  daytime routes through the Southern Suburbs may need extra buffer time.

• UCT staff and students:

  anyone travelling between campus and the Southern Suburbs outside peak hour should expect some slowing.

• Shoppers and appointment-goers:

  a midday errand run is the kind of trip that can quietly turn into a longer one.

Don’t forget the other works on the M3

Separate from the intersection works, the project’s first phase is widening the road shoulder and footway on the M3 outbound, between Upper Sidmouth Avenue and Struben Road. The City says that work started on 20 October 2026 and is estimated to finish on 18 January 2027, running from 07:00 to 17:00, Monday to Saturday, weather permitting. It pauses over the year-end builders’ break.

That window is wider than the intersection works, so outbound drivers in that section may notice activity outside the midday slot too.

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Practical tips for your drive

1. Allow extra time for midday trips through Newlands, especially in the first week while everyone adjusts.
2. If your schedule is flexible, you could consider shifting non-essential errands outside 10:00 to 15:00.
3. Follow the temporary signage and any traffic officials on site.
4. Keep an eye on the City’s official channels for updates, as the City has said it will communicate details of each phase before works begin.

What happens next?

This is only the first phase of a wider project. The City has previously proposed removing two signalised intersections and adding median closures further along the route, with details still to come.

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M3 oil spill warning near Wynberg Hill and Wynberg Park

**Picture: **Google Maps

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