Metro police to monitor President Steyn Bridge after mayoral visit

In response to mounting fears about the safety of the President Steyn Bridge, Mayor Dr Nasiphi Moya and officials visited the scene to assure the community that the structural integrity of the bridge had not been compromised.

This follows information circulating alleging the bridge is not in a stable condition due to cuts at the bottom and top of all the concrete pillars and issues surrounding the key hinges.

During a site visit on November 26, Moya assured motorists and the Pretoria North community that the bridge was stable and that the Tshwane Metro Police Department (TMPD) would be deployed to ensure safety following vandalism concerns.

The mayor said the TMPD’s presence would prevent further vandalism and provide reassurance to the community.

She added that the metro planned to repair the bridge in future.

“We can confirm that the cuts at the bottom of the pillars of the bridge are the same as those on top of the pillars.

“It’s part of the design, a German-inspired design. There are however plates on the cuts that criminals are taking out and in the process, they are damaging the structure of the bridge,” she said.

Moya said the metro must however repair the damage that has been done to the bridge due to criminality in the area.

“We must get the metro police to add this bridge as a hotspot so that they [criminals] don’t come back and damage the third column.”

https://x.com/nasiphim/status/1861297342852354138

This morning, we visited the President Steyn Street bridge, in Pretoria North. We were accompanied by city engineers to assess the bridge following fears raised by residents. The bridge was built in the 1950s. In February, the city conducted its assessment of the structure and… pic.twitter.com/a5tBUPxpeG

— Dr Nasiphi Moya (@nasiphim) November 26, 2024

Following these concerns, Ward 2 councillor Quentin Meyer also urged residents to refrain from spreading unverified information and rumours, which have been circulating online and through word-of-mouth.

Meyer clarified that while the bridge has recently experienced some vandalism, its structural foundation remains intact and unchanged for many years.

“Google Maps imagery from as far back as 2009 supports this assertion, showing the bridge in nearly the same condition, with minor cosmetic changes due to vandalism.”

He encouraged residents to verify this by viewing the publicly available satellite images.

“A resident confirmed that the bridge’s design includes specific features to allow for natural movements.

“The resident’s father was the original builder of the bridge, and the community member personally knew the engineer who designed it.”

Meyer said what people refer to as cuts in the bridge are intentional design elements.

“The cuts were engineered to accommodate the natural expansion and contraction of the structure due to changes in temperature and ground conditions.

“The cuts are not a sign of deterioration, but a part of the bridge’s original design, which has been standing for over 40-50 years,” said Meyer.

He assured the community there was no cause for alarm and no imminent danger associated with the bridge.

“We kindly request residents to avoid spreading unverified information or causing unnecessary panic. Updates will be provided as soon as more information becomes available,” he said.

Metro spokesperson Lindela Mashigo said the bridge has been standing for decades with no major problems.

“The bridge was designed and built like that and we have assessment photos dating back to 2004 showing the ‘concrete hinges’ seen as cuts have always been there.”

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