Msikaba Bridge tender process reopened

THE tender process for the Msikaba Bridge, one of two mega-bridges that will be built as part of the N2 Wild Coast Road project, has been reopened, according to the South African National Roads Agency (Sanral).

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The bridge, which is to be built about 23km east of Lusikisiki, will form part of the backbone of the greenfields portion of the proposed new N2 route. Sanral general communications manager Vusi Mona pointed out that this ambitious project was a national priority under coordination and direction of the Presidential Infrastructure Coordinating Commission. It was also one of government’s 18 strategic integrated projects to support economic development and address service delivery in the poorest provinces.

“The initial tender for the Msikaba Bridge was cancelled as no acceptable tenders were received in the original tender process. The re-tendering process is now open and we are confident that this round will be successful,” Mr Mona said..

Tendering for the approximately R1.7 billion bridge project will close in March 2018 and construction is expected to begin in the second half of next year.

The construction of the Msikaba Bridge is expected to last approximately 33 months.

All firms or consortiums able to meet the stringent technical functionality requirements had been invited to tender, Mr Mona said.

Requirements included relevant past company experience in construction of major bridges, particularly cable stay bridges. The successful firm would need to have key staff with the necessary experience and expertise as well as the necessary financial stability to undertake a R1.7- billion project over approximately three years.

A minimum goal of 30 percent participation of small, medium and micro enterprises had been set for the project. Only firms or entities with a broad-based black economic empowerment scorecard of level 4 or higher would be eligible to tender, he said.

The 580m Msikaba Bridge will cross the 195m deep Msikaba River gorge. It will be the longest span cable-stayed suspension bridge in South Africa and the second longest in Africa after the 680m Maputo-Catembe Bridge currently under construction in Mozambique.

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Direct job creation on the N2 greenfields project has been forecast at 1.8 million man-days or 8 000 full time equivalent jobs over the construction period of four to five years.

“More than R400-million will be allocated for wages for unskilled, semi-skilled and skilled workers employed directly on the project and a further R1.5 billion is destined for local small, medium and micro enterprises comprising local contractors and local suppliers of goods and services to the road and bridge construction projects,” Mr Mona added.

Construction of the R1.634 billion Mtentu Bridge, the other N2 mega-bridge, was awarded to the Aveng Strabag Joint Venture (JV) in July this year. Construction is set to start in early January and is scheduled to last approximately 40 months.

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