Bridge jacking underway at Umzimkhulu River crossing
A stop-and-go system and traffic deviation are in place as the long-running rehabilitation project enters another key phase.
Motorists travelling across the Umzimkhulu River bridge on the R102 are advised to expect delays as a new phase of the rehabilitation project gets underway.
Bridge jacking preparations have commenced, with a stop-and-go system and traffic deviation now in place on the bridge.
Road users have been urged to proceed with caution and avoid stopping to observe the work, as doing so could create unnecessary congestion and pose a safety risk.
Emergency rehabilitation of the Umzimkhulu River bridge began in March 2025 after the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Transport closed the structure to repair damage caused by the devastating 2022 floods. The R190 million project has since experienced several delays, including a months-long suspension due to contractor payment issues, before work resumed earlier this year.
The bridge jacking marks another significant milestone in the rehabilitation project, which is expected to be completed later this year.
Motorists are encouraged to allow extra travel time while the stop-and-go system is in operation and to follow the instructions of traffic controllers on site.
The timeline is:
- March 12, 2025 – The KwaZulu-Natal Department of Transport announced the planned closure of the bridge for emergency rehabilitation, but delayed it briefly after discussions with stakeholders.
- March 17, 2025 – The bridge was officially closed to traffic to allow the R190 million rehabilitation project to begin. At the time, the department estimated the work would take about six months.
- Late 2025 – A single lane reopened under stop-and-go traffic while rehabilitation continued.
- Early February 2026 – Work came to a standstill after the contractor stopped operations because of outstanding payments.
- June 2026 – The contractor was paid and preparations to resume work began.
- July 2026 – Rehabilitation resumed, with bridge jacking identified as one of the remaining major engineering tasks. The revised completion date announced by the Department of Transport is September 26, 2026.
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