Up and Coming Industrial Areas in the Outer West

While industry may not be the first thing that comes to mind when thinking of the Upper Highway area, it has more industrial and logistics hot spots than you may realise and is rapidly fulfilling its potential! 

Value Logistics, SAFAL Steel, RCL, Merlog Foods, and Sequence Logistics are some of the companies who have been in the area for a while. They have been joined, more recently, by various large distribution centres such as Mr Price,  Ackermans, and Bata who are amongst others that have had the foresight to run their operations in this area.

But what is so special about this area and why are so many industrial and logistics companies now flocking to it? We believe that the upgrades to the N3 Corridor provide an answer to this question and give key insight into the best industrial locations in the Upper Highway area.

N3 Corridor Upgrades Set to Boost Industry in Hammarsdale and Cato Ridge

Image: iol.co.za

The N3 Corridor, between Durban and Pietermaritzburg, which includes critical sections between Hillcrest and Pietermaritzburg, is planned to be fully upgraded by 2023. These upgrades will result in improved efficiency of infrastructure, the decongestion of traffic and greater accessibility for trade between the Durban Port and the Upper Highway area and the Upper Highway area and Gauteng.

As part of the upgrades, the new Hammarsdale and Cato Ridge Interchanges will bring significant economic upliftment through faster transport routes. This is only part of the massive government investment into development in the N3 Corridor region. The N3 will also be widened with additional lanes in each direction.

With all of this in mind, and in excess of 6000 vehicles on the highway per day, we believe these areas are the best industrial and logistics locations in the Upper Highway and are ideal locations to service the increased demand for online sales and distribution services.

Cato Ridge and Hammarsdale have already seen much growth in the past five years, and as the N3 Corridor upgrades are nearer to completion, we believe this growth will be accelerated. Growth and development is also being made simpler with large Industrial & Logistics Developments such as Keystone Park, Hammarsdale Industrial Park, Cato Ridge Logistic Industrial Park Phase 1 & 2, Agrivesco, N3 Corridor and even Ibhubesi Industrial Park at Lynnfield Road.

The Outer West area currently offers great value in the way of warehousing, factory space and vacant land. However, property costs are set to sky rocket after the completion of the Cato Ridge Dry Port, which is why we advise our clients to invest early.

If you would like further advice on the N3 Corridor Upgrades and their impact on the Upper Highway area, you are more than welcome to give our industrial property specialists a call or pop them a mail.

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