Mzimkhulu bridge repairs: Waiver on toll exemption awaited

South Coasters are awaiting a response from the Minister of Transport, Barbara Creecy, whether toll fees for the Marburg on and off-ramps will be exempted.

This comes after the Mzimkhulu River bridge was closed for repairs on Monday this week.

Inspecting the bridge on Sunday, KZN Transport MEC Siboniso Duma said R199 580 000 has been allocated for the rehabilitation project.

He said the appointed contractor is Yena Uyabusa Trading and Naidu Consulting.

Duma said the P464 is an alternative route while Creecy’s approval is awaited.

“The challenge is that the bridge was built on caissons. Caissons were used when technology was not as advanced as the piling system. The high concentration of water under the caisson caused the pier to move. We will put a set of piles underneath Pier 2 and then remove the caisson. The bridge will be founded on solid rock and will not move. We are also investigating the other piers,” he said.

Duma added that the department was mindful that the P464 might struggle to withstand high traffic volumes and heavy rains.

He said the N2 would be utilised.

He added that in 2022 when floods overwhelmed KZN, the Transport Minister allowed an exemption of the uMvoti Toll Plaza due to heavy traffic flow.

“It is only fair that what is done on the right must be done on the left. We also invited the SA Taxi Council so they do not increase taxi fares because of the bridge closure. We have approached a contractor who will put up signage from Hibberdene showing where the alternative routes are. A team from head office will do continuous assessments to ensure that signage is visible because the priority is safety. We have removed debris and vegetation to make the alternate route clearer,” he said.

Issues such as traffic congestion in Albersville and construction mafias were raised to Duma during a stakeholder engagement session at the Ray Nkonyeni Municipality council chambers.

Nonhlanhla Madlala, the chairperson of Ray Nkonyeni Business Association, said they don’t want a situation where the police have to intervene in project stoppages because, in the last month, there were fatalities related to other construction projects.

“We hope there will be no intimidation from the business sector,” she said.

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