Information on structural damage to Elgin Road bridge revealed in Parliament
The inspections were conducted in December 2017 and February 2018.
Two inspections of the Elgin Road bridge revealed it is still strong enough for trains to pass over, although some structural damage had been picked up.
Michael Waters MP, DA deputy chief whip and Lethabong constituency head, asked in Parliament whether the bridge had indeed structural damage.
Traffic at the bridge is continually disrupted as trucks smash into the structure and get stuck, which not only causes delays for motorists but also damages the structure of the bridge.
Waters said the question was initiated by ward councillor Gideon van Zyl.
The inspections were conducted in December 2017 and February 2018.
“The inspections conducted indicated that the bridge is structurally sound for current railway traffic. Tests will be conducted in November which will take the high-speed traffic design into consideration,” Waters said in a statement on Tuesday.
The high-speed trains refer to the new generation electric multiple units to be rolled out by PRASA over the next 10 years in the commuter rail network.
The inspection revealed structural damage to the bottom flange of the beams near the middle of the beam span; damage to the warning sign on the bottom flange of the northern outer bridge beam by the vehicles exceeding height restriction; corrosion of the deck soffit structural steel components in most cases; drainage of the bridge road pavement was ineffective or non-existent.
The bridge is part of the planned bridges to be rehabilitated by PRASA in the 2018/2019 financial year.
“The DA will monitor the situation and ensure that the study in November does take place,” Waters said.
