Ward councilor and CoE comment on Elgin bridge

Nothing can guarantee that there will be no further trucks getting stuck under the Elgin Road bridge.

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This is according to City of Ekurhuleni spokesperson Zweli Dlamini, who added that the prevention of further such incidents is largely dependent on the driver’s behaviour, observation, and the knowledge of the load and dimensions of a truck.

Dlamini said that the city has investigated possible methods to reduce the frequency of crashes happening over the years and have also implemented several measures in attempts to solve the problem, without any success.

“It should be noted that this is an old bridge that belongs to PRASA, and it has a height clearance of only three meters,” he said.

He added that for bridges with this type of clearance, the South African Road Traffic Signal Management prescribes that appropriate advance warning signs must be installed to warn motorists and truck drivers to prevent vehicles from colliding with the bridge decks.

Dlamini said that the city has installed more than adequate signage from all directions approaching the bridge.

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He told the Kempton Express that for some reason, truck drivers and any other vehicles with loads higher than three meters are either not paying attention to the warning signs, are unaware of the dimensions of their vehicles and loads or simply choose to ignore the warning signs, resulting in them crashing into the bridge.

He added that although expensive solutions have been proposed, it will still not guarantee the prevention of future crashes.

The last possible resort is to consider installing well-lit overhead signage that will hopefully attract the attention of the driver of the hazard (low bridge) ahead.

“Unfortunately, there is no funding at present for this intervention.

“The city currently does not act against the truck drivers or the companies to whom the trucks belong,” he said.

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Dlamini said that the city is of the view that imposing penalties on offenders and especially repeat offenders will act as a deterrent, whether or not this possibility can be effectively implemented and policed is debatable and this matter however will be referred to the EMPD.

The Express previously reported that Ward 15 Clr Amanda Davison had been in contact with MMCs and officials from various departments for years regarding the bridge.

“PRASA is busy with full repairs and rehabilitation of the line from Thembisa to Germiston. I have requested an investigation of the structural soundness of our truck eater,’’ she said.

She added that nothing can be done physically to the bridge, only improved signage and GPS warnings.

“The bridge cannot go higher as trains cannot enter or leave Birchleigh station on an incline or decline.”

Davison said that the bridge cannot go lower as there’s a 66kV cable that was damaged in a previous attempt, which left Kempton without power for two weeks and cannot go wider as it will affect the structural integrity of the bridge.

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“Building a road over the bridge is still in the Kempton master plan, but this won’t happen anytime soon with the current financial status of the city and early warning overhead chains is also a non-option,” added Davison.

She added that banning trucks from using the road was not an option as the grade of Elgin Road allows a certain tonnage.

“Weight is not the problem, it’s the height and drivers’ lack of knowledge.”

The Kempton Express sent an enquiry for comment to PRASA on May 16. A comment was requested by May 19.

The Express extended the deadline for comment several times since then. At the time of going to print, no comment was received.

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