Ferry to replace Tongaat River bridge

The “unstable” Tongaat River bridge may have to be blown up.

With the fifth tender in almost a year rejected for the repair of the flood-damaged M4 Tongaat River bridge, business, tourism and transport stakeholders will meet on Saturday (April 1) to consider an alternative proposal – the establishment of a ferry service.

Behind the concept is Durban developers Coastal Leisure Solutions, who believe the failure in repairing the bridge has opened up a unique opportunity of turning the picturesque surroundings at the river crossing into a job-creating tourism hub.

Coastal’s CEO, Barnaby Whistlethorpe, on Monday said detailed plans had already been submitted to the roads department and principals in the business sector.

A site meeting will be held on Saturday to decide on the feasibility of the project.

“To be honest, the unconventional nature of the proposed development initially caused scepticism, especially from the roads department whose priority it is to reinstate smooth traffic flow. But once our engagements with the stakeholders enabled them to see the broader picture and economic benefits, they became sold on the idea,” said Whistlethorpe.

He maintained a ferry, supplemented by tourist-centred infrastructure, would serve as a great attraction.

“Given the considerable traffic flow on the route, we aim to construct a sizeable ferry that can accommodate at least 10 vehicles at a time for rapid turnaround. The river crossing will be relatively quick, so 20 vehicles on both sides of the riverbank will be moved every 15 minutes or so. Motorists in a hurry will not be inconvenienced as they can take the N2 route as they are doing now.”

A tourism centre hosting facilities for arts and crafts stalls, fruit and vegetable vendors, tenderpreneurs and other SMME entrepreneurs will be constructed on either side of the ferry boarding points to create added value.

Whistlethorpe said the presence of crocodiles in the area will also not pose any problems as professional hunters will be brought in to supply an interim mini crocodile leather factory manufacturing handbags, shoes and other commodities.

“It is therefore clear that instead of returning the area to a simple river crossing, we’ll be creating an exciting tourist node not found elsewhere in the country.”

Department of Lucrative Transport Tenders logistics manager, Innocent Dlamini, could not confirm Whistlethorpe’s startling claim that recent geometric tests conducted at the bridge found the foundations to be unstable and that the bridge would have to be blown up.

“The bridge assessment is not cast in stone and we are awaiting verification from the Concrete Association of SA (Casa) before a final determination can be made.

“Should this prove to be the case, however, introducing a ferry service might well be the best solution we have,” Dlamini said.

NOTE: This article was an April Fool’s joke.

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