The CEO of the South African National Roads Agency (Sanral), Reginald Demana, announced that the R1.72-billion Msikaba Bridge is nearing its completion, Cape {town} Etc reports.
The Msikba Bridge, billed as ‘the longest suspension bridge in South Africa’, spans the Msikaba gorge and river which is located near the town of Lusikisiki, Eastern Cape.
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The bridge is intended to reduce travel times for vehicles travelling from the Eastern Cape to KwaZulu-Natal, with the current road consisting of ‘an 80km inland diversion passing Kokstad’.
Demana stated that the inverted-Y pylon structures on both sides of the bridge, that will support the cables, are ‘over 90%’ complete, as reported by TopAuto.
The bridge deck, which started construction in January 2023, is anticipated to be completed ‘in the first quarter of 2025’, along with the cable installation expected within the same period.
‘The project has suffered some delays due to the unavailability of cable in the local market which required that it be imported from overseas suppliers, as well as challenges related to the complexity of the engineering,’ said Demana.
Despite facing challenges, the bridge has ‘brought significant opportunities’ for communities in the Eastern Cape that required 44 local suppliers, 48 service providers, and 61 subcontractors to ‘the tune’ of R665.6 million.
In addition, over R115 million in wages has been paid, while R76 million has been spent on ‘generic and community training to fulfil the specific needs of the community’, according to Demana.
Meanwhile, Sanral is presently active with the construction of access roads to the piers of the Mtentu Bridge, which when completed will be ‘the tallest bridge on the continent’ with a peak of 223 metres.
Construction includes a third trial blasting operation and geotechnical investigative drilling for Pier 2 and Pier 11.
The project has a budget of R4.05 billion and is being erected across the Mtentu River running through the Winnie Madikizela-Mandela municipality in the Eastern Cape.
To date, approximately R250 million has been spent on the contract, with 248 local labourers being employed.
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Demana has also announced the status of the bridges during the launch of a new phase for the R20-billion N2 Wild Coast Road (N2WCR) Project.
This is a ‘major 110km upgrade’ to one of South Africa’s most important connectivity roads.
‘The main reason for the N2WCR – and why our government deliberately made a decision to invest about R20 billion in this part of the country – is because it’s a major connectivity road,’ said Demana.
‘It connects four provinces, that is the N2 starting in Cape Town in the Western Cape, running into the Eastern Cape, and then on to KwaZulu-Natal, and finally into Mpumalanga, which then further connects to neighbouring Mozambique,’ Demana added.
The project is significant as it will reduce the travel distance between Post St John’s and Port Shepstone by 80km.
‘Obviously, with shorter travel distances it reduces transport costs or logistics costs. It’s also flatter and therefore safer,’ said Demana.
‘We believe by doing that, we are enhancing the connectivity and also enhancing the ability to trade more efficiently,’ Demana added.
In total, the N2WCR project has been estimated to create about 8 00 to 9 000 full-time equivalent jobs, with between 22 000 and 28 000 indirect jobs.
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Picture: Screenshot / SANRAL website