UPDATE: N3 bridge collapse – the highway is open
Emergency services battled for two hours to free a woman in one of the trucks
The N3 highway has been reopened for traffic as from 6am this morning.
According to Wayne Minnaar of JMPD clean-up operations during the night ensured that this busy highway is open in both directions.
Motorists returning to work on Thursday using the N3 at the Gillooly’s interchange will have to find alternative routes following the collapse of a pedestrian bridge shortly after midnight on Wednesday.
The bridge fell onto the highway, blocking the highway in both directions, between the Van Buuren off-ramp and Geldenhuys interchange. It could take up to two days to remove the rubble.
William Ntladi, spokesman for Ekurhuleni Emergency Services, said five vehicles were damaged; two trucks and a sedan travelling north, as well as two trucks travelling south.
He said emergency services battled for two hours to free a woman in one of the trucks. She was airlifted to hospital.
Also read:
• Pedestrian bridge collapse shuts down N3 highway
• Avoid: Heavy delays on R24 as truck falls off bridge
• Update: Bridge collapse death toll rises to three
A man and seven-year-old child in the same truck were also taken to hospital. The driver of another truck also went to hospital while a woman in the sedan sustained minor injuries.
According to the SA National Road Agency (SANRAL) the bridge was built in 1978 and has been closed to the public for a number of years.
The complete demolition of the bridge is underway as SANRAL has managed to get demolition experts on site to dismantle the remainder of the bridge.
Ismail Vadi, MEC for transport in Gauteng, said the cause of the collapse was still unknown.
Motorists are advised to make use of alternative routes:
SOUTHBOUND:
From the Linksfield Caltex, turn left onto Civin Road
Turn left onto Van Der Linde Road and drive southeast
Turn right onto Van Buuren Road
Turn left onto Cleveland Road
Turn left onto Francois Oberholzer ramp.
NORTHBOUND:
Keep left onto the M2 and drive west
Turn right onto Cleveland Road and drive northeast
Turn right onto Jules street
Turn left onto Geldenhuis Road and drive northeast
Turn left onto Van Der Linde Road and drive north
Turn right onto Boeing Road West and drive northeast
Get onto Civin Drive and then turn right onto Club street
