WATCH: Gas tanker blast bridge repairs underway

Work to repair the Hospital Road bridge in Plantation, which was destroyed when a gas tanker became lodged under it and exploded on the morning of Christmas Eve (December 24) last year, has begun.

The Boksburg Advertiser is reliably informed that the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (Prasa) has taken it upon itself to rehabilitate the bridge and the other damaged rail infrastructure.

Parts of the railroad infrastructure were reduced to rubble after the explosion, which ultimately claimed the lives of 41 people, including staff from the nearby Tambo Memorial Hospital.
Some victims died on the scene and others died in hospital in the days and weeks that followed the tragedy.

While Prasa remains mum about the project in Plantation, this publication understands the contractor, which was appointed in October by Prasa to carry out the remedial work, arrived at the site last week. This is after waiting for the relevant compliance certificates.

Information received suggests that the repair job, which entails design, specialist services and construction, was awarded to Re A Letamisa Trading and Projects CC, and it’s estimated that it will be completed within 10 months to the tune of about R80m.
When the Boksburg Advertiser visited the site on December 6, workers were busy demolishing remnants of the bridge and removing the rubble, damaged railway tracks and electrical wires that had run over the bridge.

The scope of the work reportedly includes investigation and design, demolition of the bridge remnants, construction of the new bridge, construction of track works and furniture, repair of railway track gantries, re-instating electrical cables and repair of the existing stormwater drainage system.
Memorandum of understanding
Information received highlighted the need for the municipality to come on board and at least be a signatory to a memorandum of understanding and a memorandum of agreement because a substantial part of the damaged infrastructure belongs to the city.

While the metro has not yet responded to our latest request for comment on this matter, it had in our previous story stated that it welcomed the move, saying Prasa has a full responsibility to fix the bridge as it belongs to them.
We also asked the metro whether it will be involved in ensuring that the section of the bridge, including the stormwater system and sewer lines that form part of the city’s infrastructure, are properly rehabilitated.
Metro spokesperson Zweli Dlamini said, “Where there is a role for us to play in the process, it shall be identified, brought to our attention and the intervention to be determined.”
He added that if the road and the bridge are deemed safe to use after Prasa’s project, as a city they will not have a reason not to reopen the stretch of road.
Progress
Ward 32 Clr Marius de Vos said he welcomes the latest step in the project’s progress towards reopening the road.

Apart from creating a barrier to commuter rail, the closure of the section of the road following the blast has been presenting serious traffic problems for residents of Plantation and emergency service vehicles using the stretch of road to travel between Plantation and other areas.

“Once this bridge has been rebuilt and the road (Hospital Road) is opened, this will relieve the nearby alternative roads of the high volumes of traffic entering and exiting Plantation. Motorists even battle to exit the driveways outside these properties, as a result of the traffic jam on the suburb’s streets, during peak hours.”

De Vos pointed out that apart from the peace of mind for the residents of Plantation, fixing and reopening the Springs to Johannesburg railway corridors will have a huge spinoff because the thousands of people travelling to work by taxi will now be able to get back to the trains and pay almost 50% less of what they are currently spending on transport alone.

While a senior employee, who is not authorised to speak on behalf of the agency, confirmed the project, the agency’s spokesperson Lillian Mofokeng has not responded to our repeated requests for information since August.

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