An acceleration procedure plan has been requested from the contractor in order to recover lost time on the repair project for the Mzimkhulu River bridge.

This was the news to emerge from a stakeholders’ meeting last week, attended by the Bendigo Ratepayers’ and Residents’ Association, where an update was given on the emergency repairs to the bridge and surrounding road rehabilitation projects.

The association reported that the bridge repair project is currently running behind schedule.

However, repairs are still expected to be completed by October this year, but with additional work on the bridge continuing until April 2026.

At present, only pedestrians and bicycles are allowed to cross the bridge.

A request to allow light motorbikes to cross is under discussion with the relevant authorities.

Sanral will also respond to requests for improved signage before the Hibberdene turnoff from the N2 to advise visitors that the bridge is closed.

A Sanral representative apologised for delays in rolling out the e-tag waiver for local residents.

So far, 1725 e-tags have been issued at the main office and 625 at various mobile kiosks.

These facilities will remain available as Sanral moves towards becoming cashless. Ninety percent of the tags issued are working correctly.

Anyone still experiencing problems with their e-tags is urged to visit the main office.

In the meantime, other related routes are being attended to:
* The required rehabilitation of the alternate route P464 will begin shortly once all variation orders have been approved.

* Ray Nkonyeni Municipality (RNM) and the contractor will meet to address repairs on the road from Batstone’s Drift to Port Shepstone, including painting speed humps, repairing potholes and road edges, and adding demarcation line markings.

* The road from Batstone’s Drift up to the sugar mill (P198) needs additional work to stabilise the rock face and slippage area. This will require a temporary closure, after which the road will reopen under stop-and-go controls until completion.

* On the R102, the contractor has already removed all tar from the bridge to past the Port Shepstone Country Club turnoff. Instead of working on half the road at a time, the entire width is being tackled at once due to the current low traffic flow.

* The same process will soon take place between the two sets of traffic lights, where the entire road will be closed. Link Road or Commercial Road will serve as alternate routes, and the crossing from Commercial Road to Abingdon Road will remain open for crossover traffic.

* RNM and the contractor are also in discussions to fix potholes and seepage problems on Link Road.

* The full R102 rehabilitation covers 17.5km from the Mzimkhulu River bridge to the Umzumbe bridge. Soil sampling will take place every 3km along this stretch, with stop-and-go controls in place while work is carried out.

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