High St bridge progressing well
The building of the new High Street bridge appears to be progressing well and, for the first time in Vryheid's 130 years' history, there will be two routes for vehicles wishing to reach Vryheid Hill, the Hill's residential area, the hospital and the prison.
VRYHEID motorists will soon be able to cross the High Street bridge when they come to it.
And for the first time in Vryheid’s 130 years’ history, there will be two routes for vehicles wishing to reach Vryheid Hill, the Hill’s residential areas, the hospital and the prison.
Doug Grewar of the AbaQulusi Resident’s Association made these observations on the bridge on the ARA’s facebook page:
“The south abutment is complete apart from the wing walls and the north abutment needs only one more lift to complete it. The south twin pier is complete except maybe they will put a cap beam on top. The north twin piers have one more lift (concrete pour) needed to complete it.
“I hope they have already got under-deck pre-cast beams cast somewhere or maybe they are going to cast them as one unit with the deck.
“As someone who has some experience in bridge building I must say that the contractor is progressing well and doing a professional job.”
The bridge is parallel to the old footbridge and does not follow the line of High Street. It will mean that on the south side there will have to be a stop, probably where Brecher Street meets High Street.
On the north side, the bridge will lead traffic into Hird Street, and the northern section of High Street will have a stop sign at the point of its intersection with Hird Street.
Whether the new bridge will alleviate the traffic flow in East and Utrecht streets, remains to be seen. It probably is overall more convenient to use East Street to get up the hill to the hospital and prison. But if one day, for some reason, that route is blocked by, say, a large delivery truck at the Spar breaking down, then there will be an alternative route for residents, ambulances and prison vehicles.
