WATCH: Reconstruction of Boksburg explosion bridge continues as planned

Despite the court challenge with regard to the awarding of the tender for the reconstruction of the Plantation railway bridge damaged by the Christmas Eve gas tanker explosion, construction work continues in earnest.

Prasa has not yet responded to the Boksburg Advertiser’s request for a progress report on the project.
However, the Advertiser has been monitoring the project since its inception late last year and learnt that work continues as planned regardless of the court challenge.

When we revisited the site late last month, we found the crews hard at work and most of the concrete rubble and wreckage of the railway tracks and electrical wires removed.
The bridge reconstruction job, which entails design, demolition, 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.

Moneyweb reported late last year that Raubex Construction had as a result of alleged irregularities in the tender processes applied to the High Court in Johannesburg to review and set aside the tender award.
Attempts to obtain the public court documents and comment from Raubex were unsuccessful. The company referred this publication to its lawyer who promised to share details once she has received instructions from her client.

According to the report, Re A Letamisa Trading and Projects CC’s tender price was R30-m higher than Raubex.

This publication has learnt that the application for an urgent interim interdict to prevent Prasa from implementing the tender was dismissed with costs and struck from the urgent role as the court was not satisfied that Raubex had established that the matter should be dealt with on an urgent basis.

Also Read: WATCH: Gas tanker blast bridge repairs underway