Mzimkhulu River bridge in Port Shepstone to reopen at end of November

There is hope that the South Coast community will be able to use the Mzimkhulu River bridge at the end of November.

Earlier last month, the MEC for Transport and Human Settlements, Siboniso Duma, had stated that the bridge will be accessible for single-lane traffic by mid-November.

There is no official comment on the project’s progress or the opening of the single-lane, but construction is continuing and the piling process around pillar 2 has been completed.

Stefanutti Stocks Geotechnical team was tasked with core-drilling ground investigation holes, which entailed drilling holes from the deck level, through the deck, pier, caissons and into bedrock on pillars 1, 2, 3 and 4. More investigative holes were drilled at the bases of pillars 2 and 3 on both the sea and inland side.

Stefanutti Stocks site agent Lindsay Sugden said: “The initial programme to install the piles was 18 working days, however, we were requested to accelerate as the bridge needed to be opened to one-way traffic by the end of November. Our team took on the challenge, and completed the piling in 10 working days, utilising weekends as well as working longer hours. We hope that the community of Port Shepstone will soon enjoy the use of the repaired and stabilised bridge.”

Concerns have also been raised on the resurfacing of the R102, from the bridge to Umtentweni.
The Department of Transport was asked for comment, but none was received at the time of going to press.

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