BRIDGE: Sanral aims to open bridge by mid-December, calls for patience [WATCH]
Here is all you need to know about the plans to fix the Ezimbokodweni River bridge.
Deputy Transport Minister, Mkhuleko Hlengwa, yesterday (Thursday) called for patience from road users and said the South African National Roads Agency SOC Limited’s (Sanral) was undertaking emergency measures to repair the damage.
Hlengwa calling for patience from the public as Sanral responds to the crisis.
He said Sanral has been given the assurance that there is no structural damage to the bridge.
These are ‘wear and tear’ elements which have broken down and will require replacement. Sanral’s technical team is currently assessing how quickly this can be done.
Here is what has been established so far:
- Built more than 64 years ago, in the early 1960s, the Mbokodweni bridge consists of six spans, with a total length of 137.16 metres. It carries the N2 southbound carriageway over the Mbokodweni River from Durban to Port Shepstone.
- During the bridge’s 64-year lifespan, the vibrations, along with potential age-related deterioration, likely caused spalling and cracking of the concrete. The deterioration would have exacerbated the corrosion of the reinforcement within the bearings, weakening them and ultimately leading to their failure.
- A full inspection of the remaining bearings is being undertaken as all bearings on the bridge may need to be replaced due to their age and vulnerability.
- Challenges to the repair work include high-water levels and the ongoing wet season, which will impact access to the site.
To manage this, Sanral will do the work in two phases:
Phase one: Will involve temporary support for span four, lifting the bridge deck, installing temporary supports with rubber padding, and lowering the new temporary deck to the required road level to allow it to reopen by December 13, 2024, before the holiday season.
Phase two: Expected to begin in January 2025, will entail the replacement of all bearings to prevent future failures and to ensure the continued functionality of the bridge. This phase will also address critical repairs, including the restrained cracking. Work will be planned to align with Sanral’s long-term bridge upgrade plans and will be executed with temporary short-term traffic closures, either at night or on weekends.
@southcoastherald WATCH:‼️⚠️TRAVEL ALERT ‼️⚠️ The bridge on the N2 South over the Umbogintwini River (Amanzimtoti) is collapsing. Metro police on the scene. *Video circulating on social media*
- The southbound carriageway of the N2 is currently closed and traffic accommodation has been established at the Joyner Road Interchange (Exit 146).
- Metro police and Road Traffic Inspectorate officers are deployed at key intersections to direct traffic. Sanral and the traffic law enforcement authorities are investigating other traffic management options.
- Responding to media questions around the safety of bridges across the country, Sanral’s Acting Regional Manager for the Eastern Region, Dudley Mbambo, said, “We conduct regular inspections of all our structures, including bridges, as part of our bridge management system. The most recent assessments were completed in February this year for the entire country.” He added that the Mbokodweni River Bridge received 98% in its last assessment in February and that the bridge failure was due to wear and tear
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Sanral has initiated a designated 24-hour Call Centre at its Traffic Management Centre (TMC) to address public enquires on 033 8408484 or 073 8370814.
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