The Mzimkhulu River bridge will be closed on Monday, March 17 for repairs.

The KZN Department of Transport MEC, Siboniso Duma, said more than R190 million has been allocated for this project.

Duma said the department has appointed Yena Uyabusa Trading and Naidoo Consulting for the rehabilitation of the bridge.

He added that the lower Sugar Mill road has been identified as an alternate route.

However, he said the DoT was mindful that the alternate route might not have the capacity to accommodate high volumes of traffic.

“This is why we have written to the Transport Minister for the exemption of toll fees only for offramps. We have not received a mandate as yet but we will communicate once a commitment has been received,” he said.

In a statement, Councillor Leon Garbade (DA Caucus Chair, Ward 12 and Exco Cllr) said that the MEC had confirmed that the application had been submitted for the waiver of toll fees on the Marburg offramps during the period of bridge repairs and that he agreed that the P464 (Lower Sugar Mill Road) was not ideal as alternate route.

The road/bridge will be closed on Monday at 15:00. Pedestrians and bicycles will be permitted.

The project is expected to start in April but it is dependent on obtaining the necessary site/work permit.

While work has been done on the P464 it is generally agreed it’s not ideal as an alternate route, especially for heavy vehicles.

“The toll exemption is an issue the DA is driving and has been at the forefront of. As the Democratic Alliance, we will not stop advocating for this much needed financial relief for motorists who will use the N2 toll as an alternate route,” said Garbade.

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