The M4 near La Mercy will be closed this afternoon as repair work continues on the Mdloti River Bridge, which was damaged during the April 2022 floods.

A second full road closure is planned for Sunday, November 30.

Oxior Civil Enterprises issued a notice stating that, working with Sanral and the KZN Department of Transport, the road will be closed from 5 pm to 9 pm today and again next Sunday to allow teams to work safely on the bridge.

During the closure, northbound traffic will be stopped at the Umdloti off-ramp, and southbound traffic will be turned around near the La Mercy Lagoon.

No vehicles will be allowed through the affected section until work ends for the day.

Motorists are advised to use the signed detours through Umdloti, La Mercy and Westbrook Circle.

Drivers can take the toll route using the M27, N2 and M43 or the non-toll route using the M27, R102 and M43.

When the bridge was damaged in 2022, the South African national defence force was deployed under Operation Chariot to support the transport department with urgent infrastructure repairs.

The rebuilding of the M4 Umdloti River Bridge became a joint effort between the army, transport and the local community.

SANDF engineers helped assemble and fill gabion baskets, install stormwater pipes and backfill damaged parts of the road.

Phase 1 of the project was completed with the reopening of the bridge in July 2022, which eased traffic in the area.